China should brace for shockwaves from American sanctions on Russia if Moscow’s troops stage an incursion into Ukraine, one of Washington’s top officials has warned after Beijing stressed its close ties with the Kremlin in the face of Western pressure.
Speaking as part of an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan set out his view on the scope of potential measures against Moscow and how they will be felt elsewhere across the globe.
“We believe that Beijing will end up owning some of the costs of a Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he said, adding that China “should calculate that as they consider their engagements with the Russian government over the next couple of weeks.”
According to Sullivan, punitive measures “will go at the financial system of Russia, which of course engages the Chinese economy, as well.”