Democratic candidate with White House ties says Biden could be tougher on China
NBCMay 19
US Contradicts UK on Whether China Supplying Russia With 'Lethal Aid'
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Above: UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps arrives in Downing Street ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting on December 05, 2023 in London, England. Image copyright: Leon Neal/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
British Defense Minister Grant Shapps said on Wednesday that China was supplying Russia with "lethal aid" — a claim that was soon after disputed by the US.
Speaking at the London Defense Conference, Shapps said: "US and British defence intelligence can reveal that lethal aid is now flying from China to Russia and into Ukraine. And this is new intelligence which leads me to be able to declassify and reveal this fact today. I think it’s quite significant."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While the US and UK will be in contact to clarify their intelligence, there's little doubt that China and Russia have vastly increased their joint cooperation and trade since the war in Ukraine, including on the delivery of dual-use goods that can be used for weapons. It would be unsurprising if China felt emboldened to go further.
Pro-China narrative
Western countries are trying to tarnish China's image because it has developed a close relationship with Russia. However, the reality is that Russia and China are the ones who have sought to bring a negotiated settlement to the conflict — while Western countries have prolonged it and added fuel to the fire with their delivery of military aid.
