The White House said Biden underscored to Xi the “implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians”. Ahead of the call, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would question Xi about Beijing’s “rhetorical support” of Putin and an “absence of denunciation” of Russia’s invasion.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying pushed back, calling the US administration “overbearing” for suggesting that China risks falling on the wrong side of history.
Planning for the leaders’ discussion had been in the works since Biden and Xi held a virtual summit in November, but differences between Washington and Beijing over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s prosecution of his 3-week-old war against Ukraine were likely at the centre of the dialogue.
China on Friday also sought to highlight its calls for negotiations and its donations of humanitarian aid, while accusing the US of provoking Russia and fueling the conflict by shipping arms to Ukraine. Xi also renewed China’s criticism of sanctions imposed on Russia over the invasion, according to Chinese state media.
