The United States Secretary of State has urged China to stop supporting Russia’s military during a visit to Beijing.
Antony Blinken raised the concerns during more than five hours of talks with China’s foreign minister Wang Yi.
The two nations have increased talks in recent months despite tensions over a number of issues.
Mr Blinken said Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support.
“Fuelling Russia’s defence industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security,” he said.
“I made clear that if China does not address this problem, we will.”
Mr Blinken did not reveal how the US would do that, but Washington has imposed sanctions against Chinese firms for doing business with countries such as Russia, Iran and North Korea.
Relationship facing ‘disruptions’
For its part, Beijing has reiterated its concerns that the United States is suppressing China’s economic development.
The US has strongly criticised China for oversupplying global markets with cheap goods.
Just before Mr Blinken flew to China, the US President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that forces TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell the social media platform, or face a ban.
Mr Wang told Mr Blinken while China’s relationship with the US had stabilised, it was still fragile.
“The relationship is facing all kinds of disruptions,” he said.
“China’s legitimate development rights have been unreasonably suppressed and our core interests are facing challenges.”
Mr Wang also told the US not to step on “red lines” covering sovereignty and security, an apparent reference to Taiwan.
China has rallied against US assistance to Taiwan, the democratically governed island China views as its own.
“We have always called for respect of each other’s core interests and urge the United States not to interfere in China’s internal affairs,” he said.
Washington has become increasingly alarmed by Beijing’s growing aggressiveness in recent years toward Taiwan, as well as the Philippines over the disputed South China Sea.
Reuters/AP