US warns that China is considering providing 'lethal support' to Russia for next phase of brutal war

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday warned top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi of consequences should China provide weaponry to support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Blinken said after the two had met Washington voiced concerns that Beijing was considering supplying weapons to Moscow.

Their meeting took place at an undisclosed location, just hours after Wang called Washington “hysterical” over an ongoing dispute involving a suspected Chinese spy balloon spotted in the United Sates.

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The balloon had been shot down by fighter jets on President Joe Biden’s orders.

In an interview with CBS, Blinken said the United States was very concerned that China is considering providing lethal support to Russia and that he made clear to Wang that "would have serious consequences in our relationship."

Blinken added: "To date, we have seen Chinese companies... provide non-lethal support to Russia for use in Ukraine. The concern that we have now is based on information we have that they're considering providing lethal support.”

"There are various kinds of lethal assistance that they are at least contemplating providing, to include weapons," Blinken said, adding that Washington would soon release more details.

Speaking to reporters in a briefing call, a senior State Department official said China was trying to "have it both ways" by claiming it wants to contribute to peace and stability but at the same time taking "concerning" steps to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Blinken "was quite blunt in warning about the implications and consequences of China providing material support to Russia or assisting Russia with systematic sanctions evasion," the senior official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Russia and China signed a "no limits" partnership last February shortly before Russian forces invaded Ukraine, and their economic links have boomed as Moscow's connections with the West have shrivelled.

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Elsewhere in the interview, Blinken said the Chinese had no apologised over the spy balloon incident.

China reacted angrily when the U.S. military downed the 200-foot balloon on February 4, saying it was for monitoring weather conditions and had simply blown off course. Washington said it was clearly a surveillance balloon with a massive undercarriage holding electronics.

"I told him quite simply that that was unacceptable and can never happen again," Blinken said, referring to the balloon's violation of U.S. air space.

"There was no apology," he said, adding that he had not discussed with Wang rescheduling his trip to China.