China rejects US critisism over arms supply to russia

China's Foreign Ministry said on February 20 that the US "is not qualified to lecture" on arms supplies amid concerns from US officials that China may transfer arms to russia.

CNN reports this referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China spokesperson, Wang Wenbin.

The message reads: "It is the US side, not the Chinese side, that supplies a steady stream of weapons to the battlefield. The US side is not qualified to lecture China, and we would never accept the US dictating or even coercing pressure on Sino-Russian relations.

Who is calling for dialogue and peace, and who is handing out knives and encouraging confrontation?"

He added that China continues to "call for peace and promote negotiations" to resolve the "conflict in Ukraine."

For reference:

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that he was concerned that Beijing was considering strengthening its partnership with moscow by providing "lethal support" to the russian military. According to some reports, Blinken raised the issue during a meeting with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, on Saturday.

US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said on Sunday that China would cross a "red line" if it decided to provide lethal military aid to russia in the war against Ukraine.