Despite Yellen’s Warning, Beijing Reaffirms Its Cooperation With Moscow

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, at the end of her April 4–8 visit to China, warned Beijing of “significant consequences” if Chinese companies provide assistance to strengthen Russia’s military capabilities. Shortly after Ms. Yellen’s rare direct warning, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also visited China, indicating that Russia would strengthen its ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). On April 9, CCP leader Xi Jinping met with Mr. Lavrov in Beijing and said that he and Putin agreed to maintain close contact and fully implement several important agreements reached with Moscow. Russia’s foreign ministry called Mr. Lavrov’s visit “an important stage of comprehensive preparations” for a planned visit to China by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a report by Russian news agency Tass. The report said Xi “gave high marks to the state of Sino-Russian ties that continue to dynamically develop in a very complex global situation” and looks toward “the further development of the comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction with Russia.”...