The US, along with several of its Western allies, is in the process of coordinating sanctions on China if it provides military support for Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, four US officials have told Reuters.
The talks, which are still in a nascent stage, are believed to include members of the G7.
Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, had foreshadowed the US’ actions during his address to the Congress this week. “We’ve tried to signal very clearly, both in private in Munich, and then publicly, our concerns,” he said.
“We’ve talked about the implications and the consequences if they were to do so. And we also know that many of our like-minded partners share those concerns,” Kritenbrink added.
Overview
At this stage, the specific details of the sanctions package are not certain. Moreover, both the White House and the US Treasury Department have declined to comment on the possibility.
Sources familiar with the matter said that Washington’s initial steps to counter Beijing extending support for Moscow have so far comprised informal outreach at diplomatic levels, including officials from the Treasury Department.
⚡️Reuters: US seeks allies' support for possible China sanctions.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 1, 2023
The U.S. is reaching out to allies about coordinating sanctions against China if it provides lethal aid to Russia for its war in Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials and other sources.
The sources added that US officials were discussing the steps with a close group of allies that have been most vocal against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which marked its one-year anniversary on February 24.
Possible Sanctions Package
Sanctions expert Anthony Ruggiero, who worked for the previous Donald Trump administration, said that the Biden administration has the option to restrict private economic entities within China, which could deter the Chinese government and banks from extending further support to Russia.
“Then, the administration can send messages to China in public and in private, with the latter being more explicit, that the US will escalate the sanctions to include targeting Chinese banks with the full range of available options,” he told the media house.
The expert added that the US should make China choose between continued access to the US market or aiding Russia’s war.