German chancellor, EU chief say no evidence yet China mulling arms deliveries to Russia

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday reiterated that there is no evidence yet that China is planning to send lethal arms to Russia for its war on Ukraine.

"We all agree that there must be no arms deliveries and the Chinese government has also announced that it will not deliver any. That's what we demand and that's what we observe," Scholz told a press conference with von der Leyen in the east German town of Meseberg.

Scholz’s remarks were backed by the European Commission president. “So far we have no evidence of this, but you have to watch it every day,” she said.

Asked about sanctions against China in the event of such deliveries, von der Leyen said this was a “hypothetical question” at the moment.

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China was considering providing weapons to Russia, warning Beijing that any supplies would "cause a serious problem."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, in response, urged the US to “stop deflecting the blame and spreading disinformation.”

“We urge the US side to seriously reflect on the role it has played, do something to actually help de-escalate the situation and promote peace talks,” said Wang Wenbin, a ministry spokesperson.

“It is the US, not China, that has been pouring weapons into the battlefield. The US is in no position to tell China what to do. We would never stand for finger-pointing, or even coercion and pressurizing from the US on our relations with Russia."

Meanwhile, in a 12-point peace proposal on first anniversary of the war, Beijing called for ceasing hostilities, resuming peace talks, and ending Western sanctions on Moscow.