Biden Comments on China’s Role in Ukraine War Escalate Tensions

TFD – In a revealing moment during a recent news conference, President Joe Biden highlighted China’s covert support for Russia in the Ukraine war. Biden’s comments, made alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggest a more assertive US stance against Beijing amid growing global tensions. The incident underscores the deepening complexity of international alliances and the ongoing struggle for influence.

The question wasn’t even directed toward President Joe Biden, but his determination to get in an answer created a revealing moment about the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine and deepening US tensions with China.

During a news conference in Italy last week, Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, was questioned about whether China was providing Russia with weapons to use in the conflict. Standing next to him, Biden bided his time until Zelensky concluded that President Xi Jinping had informed him he would not. Only then did he offer a final statement and call the occasion to a close. By the way, China is not sending weapons; rather, it is providing the technology and capacity to build those weapons. Thus, it is actually benefiting Russia.

The remark seemed to indicate a more assertive stance against Beijing after months of cautions from the US that it shouldn’t support its allies in Moscow in the conflict. The firm new stance was reaffirmed by NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg on Monday during a visit to Washington that included meetings with Biden in the Oval Office.

“President Xi has attempted to convey in the public eye that he is stepping back from this dispute in order to evade penalties and maintain commerce. However, as Stoltenberg stated at The Wilson Center, “the truth is that China is a driving force behind the biggest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.” In addition, it wishes to keep positive ties with the West. Beijing, though, is unable to have it both ways. At some point, and unless China changes course, allies need to impose a cost.”

With Putin’s next trip to North Korea, which the Kremlin stated will include a “very eventful” list of events, including meetings with the despotic leader of the isolated Stalinist state, Kim Jong Un, worries that America’s foes are supporting Russia’s war effort are expected to intensify.

Long-standing concern among Washington foreign policy professionals has been the notion of an anti-US alliance including Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Until recently, US intelligence agencies concluded that formal alliances were improbable due to tensions between the uneasy partners. But one major element unites all those powers: a determination to undermine American authority and ambitions. The democracy that binds the US and its allies in Europe and Asia is also a challenge to each country’s cruel dictatorial rule.

The administration as a whole expressed worry and Washington went into alert mode upon learning that Putin was visiting Pyongyang.

US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told Congress in March that Russia had to provide North Korea “long-sought concessions” because it needed to restock its military supplies. Although she did not state how much collaboration there was, her remark raised the possibility that Moscow was providing nuclear or missile expertise. Last week, at a Stimson Center event, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell increased the suspense by stating that North Korea had started a series of “provocative” moves, such as providing Russia with artillery and missiles.

“They have had a significant impact on the battlefield, and we have a very good understanding of what North Korea has provided Russia,” he continued.

But it appears that the US is unsure of what Kim will receive in exchange.

“What hard currency is Russia going to give North Korea in return?” Does it have energy? Are they able to progress their nuclear or missile products because of their capabilities? stated Campbell. “We don’t know but we are concerned by that and are watching carefully.”

“We follow carefully and are concerned about the entire scope of the Russia/North Korea relationship,” he continued.

According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, North Korea illegally shipped over 11,000 weapons containers and dozens of ballistic missiles to support Russia’s military effort on Monday. “Those weapons have been observed in action in Ukraine. Thus, we are aware that they are threatening and killing Ukrainians with DPRK ammunition,” he stated.

John Kirby, the White House’s national security communications adviser, added that although the US wasn’t worried about Putin’s trip, it was keeping an eye on whether security in Northeast Asia and Ukraine had gotten worse. We are worried about the strengthening ties between these two nations not only for the effects on the people of Ukraine, as we know that North Korean ballistic missiles are still being used to strike targets in that country, but also because there may be some reciprocity that could compromise security on the Korean Peninsula. “We’re definitely going to be watching that very, very closely,” Kirby continued.

Kim and Putin are well aware that Washington is observing.

The Russian leader stated, “We highly appreciate the DPRK’s unwavering support for Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine,” in an essay published in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper of North Korea.

He also referred to the remote nation as Russia’s “loyal and like-minded ally, prepared to oppose the aspirations of the collective West.”

There have been more developments added to this article.