The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has stated that China is considering providing Russia with arms and ammunition for the conflict in Ukraine.

According to Blinken, Chinese businesses are already offering "non-lethal support" to Russia, and new data suggests Beijing may do the same.

He cautioned China that this escalation would have "serious consequences."

Moscow reportedly requested military hardware, but China has denied this.

Despite being a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping has not yet denounced Russia's invasion and has advocated for peace.

China's foreign ministry declared that it would not submit to US "coercion" or "finger pointing" regarding its relations with Russia.

After meeting Wang Yi, China's top diplomat, on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, Blinken spoke with CBS.

He claimed that he was "deeply worried" about the "possibility that China will provide lethal material support to Russia" during the meeting.

"Chinese businesses have so far helped Russia in Ukraine without using lethal force." "Our current worry stems from the knowledge that they are considering offering lethal support,"  he said.

He didn't go into detail about the specific information the US had about China's potential plans. When questioned about what the US thought China might give to Russia, he responded that it would mainly be weapons and ammunition.

The Wagner Group, a mercenary organization that provides Russia with thousands of fighters, is accused of receiving satellite imagery of Ukraine from a Chinese company, for which the US has imposed sanctions.

According to Blinken, there is "clearly no distinction between private companies and the state in China." He added that it would be a "serious problem for us and in our relationship" if China gave Russia weapons.

However, US-Chinese relations would worsen significantly if China were to send weapons to support Russian forces in Ukraine. The clear intent of Blinken's warning appears to be to dissuade China from taking that action.

Blinken added that the US was concerned that China might be assisting Russia in evading Western sanctions meant to harm Russia's economy. Russia's largest market for its oil, gas, and coal is China, where bilateral trade has increased.

Tanks are among the weapons, ammunition, and equipment being sent to Ukraine by NATO members, including the US. They have refrained from sending fighter jets, and Blinken declined to comment on whether the US would assist other nations in providing jets.

However, he added that the West needed to make sure Ukraine had the resources it would need "in the months ahead" for a potential counteroffensive against Russia. In the eastern parts of Ukraine, where some of the war's fiercest fighting has occurred, Russia is currently attempting to advance.

China "had neither stood by helplessly nor added fuel to the fire" for the conflict in Ukraine. Wang stated in Munich on Saturday that China would publish a document outlining its position on resolving the conflict, which would state that the territorial integrity of all countries must be respected.

I recommend that everyone begin to consider our options for putting an end to this war, especially our friends in Europe, Wang said.

According to Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister of Italy, the Chinese president, Xi, will give a "peace speech" on Friday, February 24, the anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Reuters, Tajani told Italian radio that Xi would promote peace in his speech without criticizing Russia.

The US would not "stand for any violation of our sovereignty," according to Blinken, who also stated that "this irresponsible act must never again occur."

According to Blinken, China's "surveillance balloon program" across five continents has other countries worried.

Wang, on the other hand, referred to the incident as a "political farce manufactured by the US" and charged that they were "using all means to block and suppress China." Sending a spy balloon has been denied by China.

Additionally, Beijing issued a warning on Sunday morning, saying that if the US escalated the dispute over the balloon, it would "bear all the consequences." " In the event "the US insists on taking advantage of the issue," China said in a statement from its foreign ministry, as quoted by Reuters, it would "follow through to the end."

On Sunday, the complete interview with CBS, the BBC's US broadcasting partner, is scheduled to air.