Bristling in opposition to U.S. claims that Beijing could also be poised to ship “deadly help” to assist Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, China accused the Biden administration on Monday of spreading lies and defended its shut partnership with Russia. Later the identical day, China’s most senior international coverage official arrived in Moscow for talks, in response to Russian state media.

The remarks, by a spokesman from the Chinese language Ministry of Overseas Affairs, have been a part of a collection of strikes by China because the nation’s chief, Xi Jinping, tries to maintain Russia shut — but in addition restore ties with Western powers. He has sought to protect relations with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia whereas casting Beijing as a innocent onlooker in his invasion of Ukraine, attempting solely to coax Moscow and Kyiv into peace talks.

Over the weekend, the U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, indicated that he had proof that, behind the scenes, Beijing was tilting towards stronger help for Mr. Putin and “contemplating offering deadly help to Russia in its aggression in opposition to Ukraine.”

Such a step can be a serious shift for China, which has defended its broader financial, vitality and political ties with Moscow however not equipped it with weapons, ammunition or different battlefield gear for the invasion. Mr. Blinken stated he had warned his Chinese language counterpart that there can be severe penalties have been that to happen.

Requested concerning the accusations from Mr. Blinken and different U.S. officers, Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the international ministry, steered that, quite the opposite, it was america that was implicated in bloodshed in Ukraine.

“It’s the U.S., and never China, that has been incessantly supplying weapons to the battlefield, and the U.S. will not be certified to concern any orders to China,” Mr. Wang advised a information convention in Beijing. Washington, Mr. Wang added, ought to “cease shirking duty and disseminating pretend information. China will proceed firmly standing on the aspect of dialogue and the aspect of peace.”

Mr. Wang was requested about stories that Wang Yi — China’s most senior international coverage official — was attributable to arrive in Moscow. Mr. Wang, the highest official, had attended the Munich Safety Convention, the place he met with Mr. Blinken and gave a speech defending China’s place on Russia and the conflict in Ukraine. TASS, the Russian state information company, later reported that Mr. Wang had arrived in Moscow. Mr. Putin might meet with him whereas he’s there, in response to Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman.

U.S. officers are watching Mr. Wang’s journey intently, which comes after the Chinese language official spoke in Munich in protection of Beijing’s straddling place on Russia and the conflict in Ukraine.

“We’re deeply involved by the expanded and prolonged disaster,” Mr. Wang, the highest official, stated when requested concerning the conflict throughout a question-and-answer session in Munich. He additionally hinted that he thought america had a geopolitical curiosity in perpetuating the preventing in Ukraine.

“Some forces might not wish to see peace talks materialize,” Mr. Wang stated. “They don’t care concerning the life and demise of the Ukrainians, nor the hurt to Europe. They might have strategic targets bigger than Ukraine itself.”

China and Mr. Xi have been entangled in tensions between america and Russia since early final yr, even earlier than Russian troops poured into Ukraine.

Again then, Mr. Xi hosted Mr. Putin in Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympics, and the 2 authoritarian leaders declared a friendship with “no limits” between their nations. Mr. Xi additionally endorsed Mr. Putin’s grievances in opposition to NATO, opposing its potential eastward enlargement. Lower than three weeks after that, Mr. Putin launched his sweeping assault on Ukraine.

Since then, officers in Beijing have defended their alignment with Russia, whereas insisting that they need peace in Ukraine and respect its sovereignty. Within the eyes of Chinese language leaders, their relationship with Russia is a necessary counterweight in opposition to American energy, stated Alexander Korolev, a senior lecturer on the College of New South Wales in Australia who research Chinese language-Russian relations.

“For China, Russia is a possible ally for its confrontation with america, and Xi Jinping will money his verify if there’s a battle between China and the U.S.,” Mr. Korolev stated in a phone interview. “I don’t suppose Beijing is completely happy about what Russia is doing, nevertheless it can not afford to lose its solely nice energy strategic companion.”

Even so, if China have been to ship weapons or some other type of “deadly help” to Russia for the conflict, that might seemingly deeply alarm Washington in addition to European leaders, jeopardizing Mr. Xi’s efforts to rebuild his nation’s connections with the world after three years of pandemic-induced isolation. Since late final yr, he has been attempting to attract nearer to Germany, France and different European nations. He tried to chill tensions with Washington, till a quarrel this month over a Chinese language surveillance balloon shot down over america put that effort on maintain.

Though the Chinese language authorities has sought to advertise negotiations somewhat than conflict in Ukraine, Beijing has not taken large diplomatic gambles to attempt to deliver talks about.

Mr. Wang, the senior diplomat, stated Beijing would quickly concern a place paper detailing a plan for peace. However the paper is prone to affirm Beijing’s longstanding views, somewhat than supply a brand new method, to evaluate from Mr. Wang’s feedback.

“We are going to reiterate the propositions made by President Xi Jinping,” Mr. Wang advised the viewers in Munich. “We may even reiterate that nuclear wars should not be fought and won’t be received.”

Throughout their assembly in Munich, Mr. Blinken advised Mr. Wang, the senior diplomat, about “a rising concern on our half that China is contemplating offering deadly help to Russia in its aggression in opposition to Ukraine,” Mr. Blinken later stated in an interview with ABC’s “This Week.”

Mr. Blinken stated, “I made clear, as President Biden has — virtually from day one with President Xi — that that might have severe penalties in our personal relationship.”

Mr. Blinken stated the help would encompass weapons and ammunition, however he didn’t supply specifics, nor did he describe the intelligence that the Biden administration presumably acquired to reach at this conclusion.

With out extra particulars to go by, it’s tough to evaluate what “deadly help” the Biden administration believes Beijing would possibly take into account offering, a number of consultants stated.

One potential concern to Washington could also be Chinese language-made drones, stated Mr. Korolev, the professional on Russia’s relations with China. Beijing’s deepening navy ties with Russia, together with common joint workouts and Chinese language copies of Russian weaponry meant Chinese language suppliers may very well be aware of different navy expertise.

However, Mr. Korolev stated, China might even see little profit from wading into the preventing when neither Ukraine nor Russia seems prone to collapse, or emerge as victor, anytime quickly.

“China can preserve sitting on the fence,” he stated. “Even when China decides to help Russia, every part shall be performed to cover that.”

Drew Thompson, previously liable for relations with China underneath the U.S. Secretary of Protection, stated that U.S. officers might have caught wind of Chinese language navy officers or arms makers discussing potential exports to Russia, and Chinese language diplomats will not be conscious of these discussions. He famous that he was now not aware of U.S. authorities inside discussions.

“There doesn’t seem like a functioning coverage coordination course of in China,” stated Mr. Thompson, now a visiting senior analysis fellow on the Lee Kuan Yew College of Public Coverage in Singapore.

Amy Chang Chien contributed reporting.