US seeks allies' support for possible China sanctions over Ukraine war: report

The United States may talk further on the subject to close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides Russia with military aid for its war in Ukraine, according to US officials. The White House and the US Treasury Department declined to comment on the subject.

Washington and its allies have said in recent weeks that China is considering providing arms to Russia, which Beijing denies. US President Joe Biden's allies have not publicly provided evidence. He has also warned China directly against doing so, with an in-person meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on February 18.

Global Security Conference in Munich

Sources familiar with the matter said the Biden administration's initial steps to counter Chinese support for Russia include informal outreach to staff and at diplomatic levels, including at the Treasury Department. He said officials were laying the groundwork for possible action against Beijing with the core group of countries most supportive of sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine a year ago.

A country official consulted by Washington said he had seen little intelligence supporting the claims about China considering possible military aid to Russia. However, a US official said they were providing a detailed description of the intelligence to allies.

China's role in the Russia-Ukraine war is expected to be among the topics when Biden meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on Friday. Before that, foreign ministers of dozens of countries including Russia, China, and America will discuss the war in New Delhi on Wednesday and Thursday.

Last week China issued a 12-point letter calling for a comprehensive ceasefire, which was met with skepticism in the West. The sources said the initial approach by Washington on sanctions has yet to lead to broad agreement on any specific measures. One source said the administration wanted to raise the idea of coordinated sanctions first. A second source said, "On the G7 front, I think there is real awareness," but added that detailed measures focused on China have not yet come into force.

Can China Derail the Conflict?

The Ukraine conflict has settled into a grinding trench war. With Russia short of ammunition, Ukraine and its backers fear that supplies from China could tilt the conflict to Russia's advantage. The US imposed new fines on people and companies accused of helping Russia evade sanctions. The measures include export restrictions on companies in China and elsewhere that would prevent them from buying goods such as semiconductors.

Daniel Krittenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, told Congress this week, "We have tried to signal our concerns very clearly, privately in Munich and then publicly." "We've talked about the implications and consequences if they do. And we also know that many of our like-minded partners share those concerns."

Among the challenges the United States faces in imposing sanctions on China, the world's second-largest economy, is its full integration into the major economies of Europe and Asia, complicating negotiations. US allies from Germany to South Korea are reluctant to isolate China.

Anthony Ruggiero, a sanctions expert under former President Donald Trump, said the Biden administration has the leeway to economically restrict private actors within China and by doing so could deter the government and banks from providing further support. Then the administration can send messages to China publicly and privately. Washington must india between giving China access to the US financial system or aid in Russia's war, Ruggiero said, citing the approach of sanctions on Iran and North Korea. Said.

Also Read: Russia-Ukraine War: America warned China, said- If Russia helps, it will have to face serious consequences