Following reports of China potentially helping its ally Russia with military equipment as well as economic aid, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Chinese Foreign Policy Adviser Yang Jiechi in Rome amid rising concerns from US President Joe Biden that China may be using the current crisis to advance its own long term interests as well as take advantage of Russia’s economically vulnerable position for profit while circumventing sanctions for its ally.

The pair reportedly spoke about the direct impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on regional security and world security alike, as well as the usage of chemical and biological weapons in the war. The intense talk was said to be about 7 hours of discussions relating to key issues in Ukraine.

“The national security adviser and our delegation raised directly and very clearly our concerns about the [People’s Republic of China] PRC’s support to Russia in the wake of the invasion, and the implications that any such support would have for the PRC’s relationship not only with us but for its relationships around the world,” said US State Department spokesman Ned Price.

Sullivan and Yang spoke about the current world situation with Ukraine and Russia, with Sullivan seeking clarity about China’s stances regarding the invasion. Furthermore, Sullivan had directly warned the adviser about the consequences of assisting Russia in circumventing certain fiscal and economic sanctions levied on the Kremlin.

The meeting is significant as China is seen to be in the middle of Russia and the United States as it is a major trading partner for the States despite ideological differences and also a major trading partner to the European Union. Its relationship and potential assistance that it would give to Russia could potentially harm its economy as the US and its allies could impose hard-hitting sanctions on China if it were discovered that they were helping the Russians avoid the effects of the sanctions.