The Sino-Russian rapprochement worries Westerners more and more. Further proof of this, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated on Tuesday, February 21, that France was monitoring the activity of Chinese companies likely to provide aid to Russia. “There are private Chinese companies whose activity we are watching closely,” said Catherine Colonna, when asked about a potential strategic partnership between China and Russia on the public television channel France 5.
Last weekend, US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken told CBS News that Chinese companies were already providing “non-lethal aid” to the Russian war effort. He then noted that there was “no distinction between private companies and state companies”. Beyond pure armament, a whole arsenal of help can be considered such as bulletproof vests, food rations, etc.
Asked about the location of these companies, especially on the Ukrainian ground, Catherine Colonna replied that they were “not necessarily on the ground”.
The Minister also assured that France spoke “completely diplomatically and quite clearly” to Beijing of its wish that Beijing “do not lend a hand to Russia”, also stressing that she preferred “to retain the attachment of China to the stability that benefits it in the long run”.
She finally felt that Westerners should see more clearly about China’s position in New York, during the meeting of the UN Security Council on February 24, a date which will mark the first anniversary of the invasion of China. Ukraine by Russia. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday he was “increasingly worried” about possible military support from China to Russia. European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, assured him that China was not supplying arms to Russia and had no plans to do so.
