China is considering sending weapons to Russia: US

A senior US State Department official told Reuters the US has seen evidence that the People's Republic of China is considering sending weapons to Russia for use in the Ukraine war and has warned China directly of the consequences.

Beijing Moscow

• "We certainly have reason to be concerned," US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said in an interview with Voice of America on Thursday. But he did not elaborate when asked if there was any evidence that Beijing was considering sending lethal weapons aid to Moscow.

A second top US State Department official said the US had warned China directly of the consequences.
Sherman said that if the People's Republic of China provides lethal (weapons) assistance to Russia, it will be an aggressor in many ways and will suffer the consequences.

China Russia

• "If the People's Republic of China provides lethal (weapons) assistance to Russia, that would be a sign of becoming an aggressor in many ways and will suffer the consequences," Sherman told VOA.
  Washington condemned Moscow's move as "irresponsible" days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension of its participation in the New Start nuclear arms control treaty.

"We do not expect President Putin to use nuclear weapons," Sherman said.