NATO Says China Must Cut Trade With Russia To Have Good Relations With West – ScheerPost

By Dave DeCamp / Antiwar.com

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday went after China for its trade relationship with Russia, saying Beijing must reduce its trade with Moscow to have good relations with the West.

Western officials often accuse China of supporting Russia’s military, but there’s no evidence of Beijing shipping weapons. Instead, they point to China’s export of semiconductors and raw materials.

“Russia’s friends in Asia are vital for its war effort. First and foremost, China. China is propping up Russia’s war economy,” Stoltenberg said. “Sharing high-end technology like semiconductors and other dual-use items with Russia. Last year, Russia imported 90 percent of its micro-electronics from China. Used to produce missiles, tanks, and aircraft.”

Stoltenberg also accused China of “fueling” the war even though Beijing has consistently called for peace talks while the US and leading NATO countries have discouraged diplomacy and have dumped tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons into Ukraine.

“China says it wants good relations with the West. At the same time, Beijing continues to fuel the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War Two. They cannot have it both ways,” Stoltenberg said.

US and other Western sanctions on Russia and China have naturally led to the two countries increasing their trade relationship. Responsible Statecraft reported on Wednesday that trade between Russia and China has risen by 26% since 2022. Russia said it has almost completely dropped the dollar in its trade with China.

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Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.