The United States has said Chinese President Xi Jinping cannot simultaneously improve ties with the West and support Russia after pledging to strengthen relations with his counterpart Vladimir Putin.
"The People's Republic of China cannot have its cake and eat it," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
"Beijing can't have it both ways and want to have (better) relations with Europe and other countries while continuing to fuel the biggest threat to European security in a long time," Patel said, referring to Russia's incursion into Ukraine.
The United States accuses China that while it is not directly sending arms to Russia, it is supporting the biggest expansion of Moscow's defense industry since Soviet times, a concern voiced by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken when he visited Beijing last month.
During their May 16 meeting in Beijing, at which the Russian president sought greater Chinese support for his military efforts, Xi and Putin described ties between their countries as a stabilizing force.
China's support for the Russian defence industry "not only threatens Ukrainian security but also European security", Patel said.
In remarks broadcast on Russian television, Xi said China "looks forward to a speedy restoration of peace and stability on the European continent."
Asked about China's stated support for the peace process, Patel said, "From our point of view, the solution is simple - Russian Federation can just leave Ukraine."/BGNES
