Biden Warns Chinese President of ‘Consequences’ if China Helps Russia

WASHINGTON — President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by secure video link for about two hours on Friday morning, with Biden warning that Beijing would face “consequences” if it provides “material support” to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A White House official who briefed reporters after the call described the conversation between the two leaders as “direct,” “substantive” and “detailed,” but declined to provide any details about the kind of penalties the United States would seek to impose if China provided Russian President Vladimir Putin with either military hardware or financial support.

Administration officials have grown increasingly concerned that Putin would turn to China for support as his failure to subdue Ukraine has led him to take increasingly desperate steps, including launching missile strikes against civilians.

Reports last week suggested Putin has already made a request for some kind of military aid.

“President Biden shared with President Xi a detailed review of how things have developed to this point, his assessment of the situation today, and underscored his support for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis,” the official said. 

“The president described our assessment of Putin’s actions and his calculations. He also described the unity of the U.S. and its allies … and the overwhelming global unity in condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the official added.

He also “made clear the implication and consequences of China providing … support to Russia … not just in terms of China’s relationship with the U.S., but for the wider world,” the official said.

The official went on to say President Biden didn’t make any specific requests of China, but wanted to make clear where the U.S. and its allies stand.

“Our view is that armed with that information, China will make its own decisions,” the official said.

U.S. officials refused to characterize President Xi’s response, directing reporters to their sources in China.

A readout of the call issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs placed an emphasis on diplomacy.

“All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue and negotiation[s] that will produce results and lead to peace,” the readout said. 

“The U.S. and [the North Atlantic Treaty Organization] should also have dialogue with Russia to address the crux of the Ukraine crisis and ease the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine,” it continued.

The readout also said President Xi referred to a Chinese offer for humanitarian aid to Ukraine and other countries affected by the crisis. 

But China’s account also went on at length about the tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan. 

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Xi warned Biden not to take any steps that might encourage Taiwanese independence.

Biden reiterated that U.S. policy on Taiwan has not changed, and emphasized that the U.S. continues to oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo.

The two leaders also agreed on the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to manage the competition between our two countries, the White House said.

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