JAKARTA - US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who will meet top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome on Monday, warned Beijing would face serious consequences if it helped Moscow evade sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
Russia requested Chinese military equipment after its February 24 invasion of Ukraine, sparking fears in Beijing's White House could undermine Western efforts to help Ukrainian forces defend their country, US officials said.
Sullivan plans in his meeting with Yang to clarify Washington's concerns, while mapping out the consequences and increasing isolation China would face globally if it stepped up its support for Russia, a US official said, without providing details.
Asked about Russia's request for military assistance, first reported by the Financial Times, Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said: "I've never heard of it."
He said China found the current situation in Ukraine 'confusing' and added: "We support and encourage all efforts conducive to a peaceful resolution of the crisis."
Liu said, "maximum efforts should be made to support Russia and Ukraine in continuing negotiations despite the difficult situation to produce a peaceful outcome."
Meanwhile, Sullivan told CNN on Sunday Washington believes China was aware Russia was planning some actions in Ukraine before the invasion took place, although Beijing may not fully understand what was planned.
After the invasion began, Russia sought military equipment and support from China, US officials said.
Sullivan said Washington was watching closely to see the extent to which Beijing provided economic or material support to Russia, and would bear consequences if it did.
"We communicate directly, personally to Beijing, that there will inevitably be consequences for large-scale sanctions evasion efforts or support for Russia to replenish them," Sullivan said.
"We will not allow that to continue and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country, anywhere in the world," he stressed.
The meeting, planned for some time, is part of a broader effort by Washington and Beijing to maintain open channels of communication, managing the rivalry between the world's two largest economies, a senior Biden administration official said.
No specific results were expected, added the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Separately, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the focus of the meeting was to "apply the important consensus" reached during the virtual meeting, held between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in November, to discuss "strategic stability" and issues. gun control.
The two sides will exchange views on US-China relations as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern, he said in a statement published on the ministry's website.
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Washington and its allies have imposed unprecedented massive sanctions on Russia and banned its energy imports, while providing billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Individually and together they have appealed to China, the Gulf states, and others who have failed to condemn the Russian invasion to join forces in isolating Russia from the global economy.
Beijing, Russia's main trading partner, has refused to call Russia's actions an invasion, even though President Xi last week called for "maximum control" in Ukraine after virtual meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
President Xi also expressed concern about the impact of sanctions on global finance, energy supplies, transportation, and supply chains, amid growing signs Western sanctions are limiting China's ability to buy Russian oil.
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