Nick Schifrin:
Yes, that warning came from Antony Blinken three separate times this weekend in public and also during a meeting that he had with China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, at the Munich Security Conference.
U.S. officials are concerned because, according to congressional officials I speak to, Chinese companies have begun to send dual-use technology, including surveillance items, to the Wagner paramilitary group that is leading the fighting in Bakhmut and to the Ministry of Defense.
A senior U.S. official told me that Beijing was likely — quote — "looking away" from these sales. And so what U.S. officials are trying to do is to make sure that this dual-use technology isn't passed through more official channels, as in Beijing would actually authorize the dual-use technology from being sent, but also that step that you mentioned, Amna, that Beijing doesn't cross the threshold and send lethal aid, send weapons to Russia.
Obviously, in the short term, the U.S. doesn't want to see anyone help Russia in these crucial weeks and months in Ukraine. But, long term, the U.S. believes that its export controls on Moscow will cripple the Russian military in the next few years.
And one of the few avenues that Russia could turn to bail it out and still field a modern military is Beijing. And that is what the U.S. does not want to see happen.
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