US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on July 9, 2022. AP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on July 9, 2022. AP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on July 9, 2022. AP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on July 9, 2022. AP

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US increasingly concerned China will arm Russia against Ukraine

Washington considers making intelligence on Beijing public, report says

The National

February 23, 2023

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The US has warned China about providing Russia with weapons and other lethal aid for the invasion of Ukraine, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday.

“We have not yet seen the PRC [People's Republic of China] provide Russia with lethal aid, but we don’t believe they’ve taken it off the table either — we are concerned,” Mr Price said in a briefing.

“We’re monitoring very vigilantly for potential violations.”

The Wall Street Journal published a report saying that the US government is considering releasing intelligence that spells out Beijing's potential arms transfer to Moscow.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confronted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with concerns that China was considering whether to assist Russia.

The two met on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich at the weekend.

"I warned China against providing material support to Russia.," Mr Blinken said in a tweet.

The growing US concern with China aiding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has deepened the mistrust between Washington and Beijing after President Joe Biden ordered the US Air Force to shoot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon this month.

"We do not accept the United States' finger-pointing on China-Russia relations, let alone coercion and pressure," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a briefing on Monday.

"China's direction on the Ukraine issue can be summed up in one phrase, which is urging peace and promoting dialogue.

"It is the United States and not China that is endlessly shipping weapons to the battlefield."

The US has been clear with Beijing that there will be real consequences in relations if China tried to tilt the battlefield to Russia’s advantage, Mr Price said on Wednesday.

“The reputational cost that the PRC is enduring is already very real because the rest of the world sees the PRC, despite its veneer of neutrality, its self professed neutrality, provide important forms of support to Russia already,” he said.

“We are watching very closely to determine if the PRC does actually decide to take that step to provide lethal aid.”

February 24 will be a year since Russia started the Ukraine war. The National picks out the most powerful images from the conflict. AFP
February 24 will be a year since Russia started the Ukraine war. The National picks out the most powerful images from the conflict. AFP
A member of Ukraine's 79th Air Assault Brigade fires a rocket-propelled grenade at Russian positions near Marinka in February. Reuters
A member of Ukraine's 79th Air Assault Brigade fires a rocket-propelled grenade at Russian positions near Marinka in February. Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses MPs in Westminster Hall, London, in February 2023. Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses MPs in Westminster Hall, London, in February 2023. Getty Images
Destroyed buildings 32km west of the front lines in Donetsk in January. Getty Images
Destroyed buildings 32km west of the front lines in Donetsk in January. Getty Images
An anti-aircraft gun in January fires at Russian positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk. Reuters
An anti-aircraft gun in January fires at Russian positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk. Reuters
Destruction in the village of Bohorodychne, Donetsk. AFP
Destruction in the village of Bohorodychne, Donetsk. AFP
A Ukrainian artilleryman discards an empty shell on the outskirts of Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, in December 2022. AFP
A Ukrainian artilleryman discards an empty shell on the outskirts of Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, in December 2022. AFP
Children receive presents from a Ukrainian soldier dressed as Santa on Christmas Eve in Sloviansk. Getty Images
Children receive presents from a Ukrainian soldier dressed as Santa on Christmas Eve in Sloviansk. Getty Images
More than 1,000 missiles and rockets fired by Russian forces collected for cataloguing in Kharkiv in December 2022. Getty Images
More than 1,000 missiles and rockets fired by Russian forces collected for cataloguing in Kharkiv in December 2022. Getty Images
The Metro provides shelter as Russia launches another missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, in December 2022. Getty Images
The Metro provides shelter as Russia launches another missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, in December 2022. Getty Images
Children at a PE class in Kyiv after Russia abandoned its attempt to seize the capital in November 2022. Getty Images
Children at a PE class in Kyiv after Russia abandoned its attempt to seize the capital in November 2022. Getty Images
A sniper searches for Russian positions on the bank of the Dnipro river in Kherson in November 2022. Getty Images
A sniper searches for Russian positions on the bank of the Dnipro river in Kherson in November 2022. Getty Images
Graffiti by Banksy on a wall among the debris in Borodyanka in November 2022. Getty Images
Graffiti by Banksy on a wall among the debris in Borodyanka in November 2022. Getty Images
Ukrainian flags flutter around graves in a cemetery for soldiers killed in action in Kharkiv in October 2022. Getty Images
Ukrainian flags flutter around graves in a cemetery for soldiers killed in action in Kharkiv in October 2022. Getty Images
Parts of a drone, which Ukrainian authorities said was Iranian-made, after a Russian strike in Kyiv in October 2022. Reuters
Parts of a drone, which Ukrainian authorities said was Iranian-made, after a Russian strike in Kyiv in October 2022. Reuters
An elderly woman is helped across a damaged bridge in Bakhmut in October 2022. Getty Images
An elderly woman is helped across a damaged bridge in Bakhmut in October 2022. Getty Images
Fuel tanks ablaze on damaged sections of the Kerch bridge in Crimea, in October 2022. Reuters
Fuel tanks ablaze on damaged sections of the Kerch bridge in Crimea, in October 2022. Reuters
A destroyed bridge makes crossing the Donets river difficult, in Staryi Saltiv, east of Kharkiv, in September 2022. AFP
A destroyed bridge makes crossing the Donets river difficult, in Staryi Saltiv, east of Kharkiv, in September 2022. AFP
Firefighters at a thermal power plant in Kharkiv damaged by a Russian missile strike in September 2022. Reuters
Firefighters at a thermal power plant in Kharkiv damaged by a Russian missile strike in September 2022. Reuters
Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr with his daughter Nikole at Lviv railway station in August 2022. Getty Images
Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr with his daughter Nikole at Lviv railway station in August 2022. Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then-British prime minister Boris Johnson read a plaque in Kyiv in August 2022 dedicated to the latter for his support. Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and then-British prime minister Boris Johnson read a plaque in Kyiv in August 2022 dedicated to the latter for his support. Getty Images
Destroyed Russian military equipment on Khreshchatyk street in Kyiv. The materiel was turned into an open-air military museum ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24. AFP
Destroyed Russian military equipment on Khreshchatyk street in Kyiv. The materiel was turned into an open-air military museum ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24. AFP
Shakhtar Donetsk v Metalist Kharkiv kicks off the Ukrainian Premier League season in August 2022 amid fears of bomb and missile alerts. EPA
Shakhtar Donetsk v Metalist Kharkiv kicks off the Ukrainian Premier League season in August 2022 amid fears of bomb and missile alerts. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen fire an American-made 155mm M777 howitzer in July 2022 in the Kharkiv area. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen fire an American-made 155mm M777 howitzer in July 2022 in the Kharkiv area. EPA
A bomb crater on the Antonovsky bridge across the Dnipro river in Kherson, July 2022. AFP
A bomb crater on the Antonovsky bridge across the Dnipro river in Kherson, July 2022. AFP
Maksym and Andrii with plastic guns at a 'checkpoint' they set up while playing in Kharkiv, July 2022. AP
Maksym and Andrii with plastic guns at a 'checkpoint' they set up while playing in Kharkiv, July 2022. AP
Ukrainian troops on Snake Island in June 2022. Reuters
Ukrainian troops on Snake Island in June 2022. Reuters
A woman evacuated from an area of conflict in June 2022 contemplates what the next move might be. AP
A woman evacuated from an area of conflict in June 2022 contemplates what the next move might be. AP
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Kyiv in June 2022. Getty Images
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Kyiv in June 2022. Getty Images
Graves in Irpin cemetery, May 2022. Getty Images
Graves in Irpin cemetery, May 2022. Getty Images
A Ukrainian soldier trapped within the besieged Azovstal Iron and Steel Works complex in Mariupol in May 2022. Reuters
A Ukrainian soldier trapped within the besieged Azovstal Iron and Steel Works complex in Mariupol in May 2022. Reuters
The wreckage of a Russian helicopter in a bomb-cratered field in Biskvitne, May 2022. Getty Images
The wreckage of a Russian helicopter in a bomb-cratered field in Biskvitne, May 2022. Getty Images
A Ukrainian army officer inspects a grain warehouse shelled by Russian forces in May 2022 near Novovorontsovka, Kherson. Getty Images
A Ukrainian army officer inspects a grain warehouse shelled by Russian forces in May 2022 near Novovorontsovka, Kherson. Getty Images
A boy from Mariupol arriving at an evacuation point in Zaporizhzhia in May 2022. Getty Images
A boy from Mariupol arriving at an evacuation point in Zaporizhzhia in May 2022. Getty Images
A Russian serviceman on guard outside Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in May 2022. AFP
A Russian serviceman on guard outside Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in May 2022. AFP
Oksana searches for salvageable items on the destroyed second floor of her home in Hostomel, April 2022. Getty Images
Oksana searches for salvageable items on the destroyed second floor of her home in Hostomel, April 2022. Getty Images
A floral memorial wall in Lviv for Ukrainian civilians killed during the Russian invasion, April 2022. Getty Images
A floral memorial wall in Lviv for Ukrainian civilians killed during the Russian invasion, April 2022. Getty Images
People fleeing Lviv, eastern Ukraine, in April 2022, wait for a bus that will take them to Poland. Getty Images
People fleeing Lviv, eastern Ukraine, in April 2022, wait for a bus that will take them to Poland. Getty Images
A Russian soldier patrols a bombed Mariupol theatre in April 2022, as Moscow intensified its campaign to take the strategic port city. AFP
A Russian soldier patrols a bombed Mariupol theatre in April 2022, as Moscow intensified its campaign to take the strategic port city. AFP
A Ukrainian celebrates success in Hostomel in April 2022. Getty Images
A Ukrainian celebrates success in Hostomel in April 2022. Getty Images
Julia Palovskaya reads to children during an air raid drill in the basement shelter at a preschool in Lviv, April 2022. Getty Images
Julia Palovskaya reads to children during an air raid drill in the basement shelter at a preschool in Lviv, April 2022. Getty Images
Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Bucha in April 2022, where hundreds of bodies were found in the street and it was claimed the Russian leadership was responsible for killing civilians. AFP
Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Bucha in April 2022, where hundreds of bodies were found in the street and it was claimed the Russian leadership was responsible for killing civilians. AFP
Oleh Smolin, 23, who suffered leg injuries from Russian shelling in April 2022, in hospital in Chuhuiv. Getty Images
Oleh Smolin, 23, who suffered leg injuries from Russian shelling in April 2022, in hospital in Chuhuiv. Getty Images
Fleeing refugees arrive at the border train station of Zahony, Hungary, in March 2022. Getty Images
Fleeing refugees arrive at the border train station of Zahony, Hungary, in March 2022. Getty Images
A father says goodbye to his daughter on an evacuation train about to leave Odesa in March 2022. AFP
A father says goodbye to his daughter on an evacuation train about to leave Odesa in March 2022. AFP
Ukrainians under a destroyed bridge as they try to cross the Irpin river on the outskirts of Kyiv in March 2022. AP
Ukrainians under a destroyed bridge as they try to cross the Irpin river on the outskirts of Kyiv in March 2022. AP
People cram into Kyiv station to catch trains to Poland or to western parts of Ukraine, shortly after the initial invasion in February 2022. Getty Images
People cram into Kyiv station to catch trains to Poland or to western parts of Ukraine, shortly after the initial invasion in February 2022. Getty Images
A demonstration in support of Ukraine in Trafalgar Square, London, February 2022 . Getty Images
A demonstration in support of Ukraine in Trafalgar Square, London, February 2022 . Getty Images
Russian army vehicles in Armyansk, Crimea, in February 2022. AFP
Russian army vehicles in Armyansk, Crimea, in February 2022. AFP
Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on February 25, 2022, in a video on Facebook. He said 'we are all here', shortly after the Russian invasion began. AFP
Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on February 25, 2022, in a video on Facebook. He said 'we are all here', shortly after the Russian invasion began. AFP
A residential building damaged by a missile strike in Kyiv in February 2022. Getty Images
A residential building damaged by a missile strike in Kyiv in February 2022. Getty Images
A metro station in Kyiv in February 2022, crowded with people trying to escape the invasion. AFP
A metro station in Kyiv in February 2022, crowded with people trying to escape the invasion. AFP
A police officer addresses people gathered to protest against the invasion of Ukraine, in central Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 2022. AFP
A police officer addresses people gathered to protest against the invasion of Ukraine, in central Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 2022. AFP
A protester in support of Ukraine, in Berlin, Germany, in February 2022. Getty Images
A protester in support of Ukraine, in Berlin, Germany, in February 2022. Getty Images
Ukrainian soldiers prepare to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region on February 24, 2022. AFP
Ukrainian soldiers prepare to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region on February 24, 2022. AFP
Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on February 24, 2022, after Russia launched a full-scale invasion. AFP
Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on February 24, 2022, after Russia launched a full-scale invasion. AFP
A mass exodus from Kyiv after pre-offensive missile strikes by Russian armed forces on February 24, 2022. Getty Images
A mass exodus from Kyiv after pre-offensive missile strikes by Russian armed forces on February 24, 2022. Getty Images
Security personnel inspect the remains of a shell in Kyiv on February 24, 2022, soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine. AFP
Security personnel inspect the remains of a shell in Kyiv on February 24, 2022, soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine. AFP
CCTV footage shows Russian military equipment crossing a Crimea border checkpoint on February 24, 2022. AFP
CCTV footage shows Russian military equipment crossing a Crimea border checkpoint on February 24, 2022. AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin early on February 24, 2022, when he announced a 'military operation' in Ukraine. AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin early on February 24, 2022, when he announced a 'military operation' in Ukraine. AFP

Agencies contributed to this report

Family reunited

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.

She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.

She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.

The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.

She was held in her native country a year later.

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Updated: February 23, 2023, 12:31 AM
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