Joe Biden to warn Xi Jinping not to give Putin weapons

US President Joe Biden will warn Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping of the price Beijing will pay if it provides military equipment for Russia’s Ukraine invasion.

US President Joe Biden will warn Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that America will “impose costs” on Beijing if it gives materiel ­support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In the first conversation between the two leaders since Moscow launched its invasion, Mr Biden will tell China’s leader that Washington is closely watching the gap between Beijing’s actions and its rhetoric.

Outlining Mr Biden’s message, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China had a responsibility to use its influence with Russia to end the war and “defend the international rules and principles that (China) professes to support”.

“Instead, it appears that China is moving in the opposite direction by refusing to condemn (Russia’s invasion), while seeking to portray itself as a neutral arbiter,” Mr Blinken said at a briefing before the leaders’ late Friday phone meeting.

“We’re concerned that they’re considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine,” he said, confirming reports that US officials believed China had signalled its willingness to provide Moscow with such support.

“China will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia’s aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs.”

The phone meeting between Mr Biden and Mr Xi comes after weeks of rising tension between the already strained superpowers, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

Washington has led an international coalition punishing Russia with unprecedented sanctions. Mr Biden this week committed a further $US800m in military aid after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an impassioned virtual address to congress.

China has refused to condemn Moscow. The Chinese representative was the only judge to join Russia in opposing an order by the UN’s highest court this week to end the war.

Beijing has officially claimed a position of neutrality, but its Foreign Ministry and state media have repeatedly blamed America as the “culprit” for the conflict.

US President Joe Biden meets with China's President Xi Jinping during a virtual summit in November last year. Picture: AFP

Moscow has been more explicit about the two countries’ partnership, with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov this week saying it was counting on China to help it withstand the US-led sanctions.

Evan Medeiros, an Asia specialist in the Obama administration, said the Biden-Xi meeting came as Washington tried to explain to Beijing that it is on the cusp of a “very dark” future.

“The message to the Chinese right now is basically there are a variety of futures for the relationship. Some very dark, some more moderate,” said Mr Medeiros, a US-China fellow at Georgetown University and former National Security Council official.

“What the US is trying to do is to try to … get through to Xi Jinping and the top leaders and highlight to them, the thresholds that they’re about to cross.”

China’s support for Russia has alarmed capitals around the world, even those with longstanding ties to Beijing.

Singapore’s top diplomat this week said Mr Xi’s decisions in the coming weeks could usher in “a very, very different world”. “The big issue now is what decisions and actions China takes,” said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Mr Balakrishnan warned of a “deepening of the bifurcation” of the world’s economy if China sided with its “no limits” strategic partner, Russia. “I hope they will assert their influence with Chinese characteristics, which means quietly and discreetly, but effectively.

“Whether this is wishful thinking on my part we’ll see over the next few days and weeks.”

Mr Biden and Mr Xi last spoke in November during a three-hour meeting that underscored the profound tensions between the world’s two most powerful countries. China’s leader threatened “drastic actions” if he felt provoked by Taiwan, warning “those who play with fire will get burned.”

Following the meeting, Mr Biden announced America’s diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics, which enraged Beijing.

Mr Xi responded by inviting Mr Putin to the Games as China’s guest of honour. Hours before the opening ceremony, the two leaders published a more than 5000- word long joint statement that declared there were “no ‘forbidden’ areas of co-operation” between China and Russia. Weeks later, Mr Putin launched his invasion.