During an official visit to Beijing, the UK Foreign Secretary expressed concerns that the supply of arms to Russian forces “could seriously damage China’s relations with Europe.” At the same time, both sides remained firm in their opposing views on human rights.
The UK Foreign Secretary called on the Chinese government to investigate allegations that Chinese companies have supplied weapons to the Russian military. This comes after the United States imposed sanctions on several Chinese firms accused of collaborating with Russia’s armed forces.
Lammy, on a diplomatic mission to Beijing, is seeking to improve relations between China and the new UK government, led by the Labour Party. In his talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Lammy stressed that both nations share an interest in maintaining peace in Europe and ending the war in Ukraine.
Lammy also emphasized that China’s supply of equipment to Russia “could harm China’s relations with Europe while helping to prolong Russia’s war,” according to a statement from the UK government.
In the same statement, the Foreign Secretary urged Wang Yi to take measures to investigate and halt the supply of military equipment to Russian forces by Chinese companies.
Meanwhile, China’s report, as shared through the state-run media outlet CGTN, noted only that both sides “exchanged views on international and regional issues, including the Ukraine crisis.”
These comments came shortly after the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on two Chinese companies, accusing them of designing, manufacturing, and exporting drones used by Russia in Ukraine.
China has strongly rejected the U.S. accusations, stating that it “has never supplied lethal weapons to any party involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” and emphasizing its “strict” export controls.
