U.S. President Joe Biden cautioned China that supporting Russia in its conflict with Ukraine will not bring economic benefits and could result in consequences such as increased tariffs and a loss of foreign investment. President Biden emphasized that China will not gain economically by aiding Russia in its military endeavors, warning that actions like supplying Russia with resources will not lead to the economic investments they desire. President Biden highlighted how the U.S. has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles due to China’s failure to adhere to international regulations. The President’s remarks followed a NATO summit where allies criticized China for enabling Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, urging China to cease all support to Russia’s war efforts. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also emphasized China’s role in providing Russia with materials used in attacks on Ukraine. President Biden underscored how China utilizes its market influence to sway other nations and discussed his direct communication with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. The strengthening alliance between Beijing and Moscow has raised concerns among lawmakers, with calls for imposing costs on China for supporting Russia’s actions. Efforts to disrupt the alliance between Russia and China have been urged by lawmakers, with sanctions imposed on Chinese entities for aiding Russia’s defense industry. Lawmakers have welcomed NATO’s condemnation of China’s support for Russia’s aggression and reiterated the need to address the dangerous implications of China’s involvement in the conflict. According to official Chinese customs data, Beijing imported approximately 107 million metric tons of crude oil from Russia in 2023, marking a 24 percent increase from the previous year.
Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the New York-based think tank Gatestone Institute, highlighted in a social media post on July 11 that NATO member states must take action to prevent Chinese support for certain activities.
During the NATO Public Forum on July 10, Mr. Stoltenberg was asked about potential measures NATO could take against China. He emphasized the importance of addressing China’s actions, stating that they cannot maintain a normal relationship with NATO Allies while simultaneously contributing to conflicts in Europe.
Mr. Stoltenberg urged Allies to consider the extent to which they are willing to go in order to address this challenge and maintain security in the face of the greatest threat since World War II.
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