China may have talked Russian President Vladimir Putin out of deploying nuclear weapons amid Russia's war against Ukraine, outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Financial Times on Friday.
China has tried to walk a diplomatic tightrope since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While they have not officially endorsed Russia’s aggression, the U.S. has criticized China for providing material support in the form of dual-use items that Russia has used on the battlefield, including semiconductors, drone components, sensors, earthmovers, and nitrocellulose, an ingredient in rocket propellent.
Blinken told the outlet that China may have used its influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin to dial back his threats to use nuclear weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine.
“We have reason to believe that China engaged Russia and said: 'Don't go there,” Blinken told the outlet, adding, “Even if the probability went from 5 to 15%, when it comes to nuclear weapons, nothing is more serious.”
The secretary of state also noted that China likely stepped in to persuade Putin not to launch a nuclear weapon into space. Tensions were raised further in November when Putin lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike after the Biden administration permitted the use of its weapons to hit targets inside Russian territory.
Blinken praised Biden’s tenure in office as it pertains to Russia and has previously indicated the administration's intention to continue to funnel aid to Ukraine. “President Biden has committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and Jan. 20,” when president-elect Donald Trump is due to be sworn in, Blinken told reporters in November.
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