US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprising statement in an interview with the Financial Times. He said that China likely warned Russia not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Blinken told the newspaper that Beijing might have told Moscow, “Don’t go there.” This suggests that China was trying to stop Russia from escalating the situation by using nuclear arms.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has been threatening to use nuclear weapons since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. He claimed these threats were necessary because of Western support for Ukraine.
However, Blinken is worried about Putin’s nuclear posturing and said that even a small chance of nuclear war is very serious. The US Secretary of State also revealed that the US informed China about Russia’s plans to put nuclear weapons in space.
Blinken criticized China’s approach to the conflict, saying that Beijing was trying to have it both ways by claiming to seek peace while allowing military-related exports to Russia. He emphasized that the US has a responsibility to maintain dialogue with China despite their differences.
In related news, Blinken pushed back against criticism of delayed weapons deliveries to Ukraine. He explained that the administration had to consider practical factors such as Ukraine’s ability to operate and maintain various weapons systems.