Pentagon says China’s support for Russia is ‘worrying’

Washington has expressed concern about Chinese diplomacy and its support for Moscow on “security issues on the European continent.”
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Sputnik – The Pentagon warned of Washington’s concern about Chinese diplomacy and its support for Moscow on “security issues on the European continent.”

Speaking to the press on Monday (14), Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby offered his views on the increasingly close cooperation between Beijing and Moscow.

“We have certainly seen the burgeoning relations between Russia and China,” Kirby noted when commenting on the statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who called for a halt to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) expansion earlier this month. .

“The February 4th joint statement certainly provided further evidence that China has decided that it will stand with Russia in what is happening in Europe,” Kirby said.

According to Kirby, Beijing’s support for Moscow on “high-risk” issues further destabilizes the security situation in Europe. “It is very worrying,” he added.

Western leaders have repeatedly warned for months that Russia may soon order an invasion of Ukraine.

This Tuesday (15), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that Russia has no plans to invade Ukraine, classifying the ongoing media coverage of the issue as “information terrorism”.

The minister justified that Moscow has the right to transfer its forces within its sovereign territory, and this includes conducting military exercises.

After talks between Xi and Putin in December, the Russian leader’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, revealed that the Chinese president supports Moscow’s offer of guarantees.

Moscow and Beijing emphasized the importance of their relationship in various fields, including trade, energy, economy and defense, with Putin saying in early February that their relations had reached “unprecedented” levels.