The US accused China of helping Russia’s military in a deal that gets it secret submarine and missile tech

Campbell said Russia is, in turn, aiding China in areas it has historically been hesitant to show support in, such as submarine, aeronautic, and missile technologies.

He also urged Europe to take get tougher on Russia, saying that simply making it clear that “certain financial institutions” are being watched more carefully would have “significant consequences.”

The US has previously accused China of providing support in the form of dual-use components for Russia’s military industry.

It has said China is supplying Russia with equipment such as chips and integrated circuits, which can be used to produce weapons. In response, China has said it is not a party to the Ukraine war and that there should be no interference with trade between China and Russia.

However, Campell’s comments are the first time a US official has said China is directly providing lethal aid to Russia against Ukraine.

China has consistently maintained that it has an “impartial” stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Analysts say that China is performing a balancing act. It is backing the Russian invasion to dent US global power while also seeking to maintain the trading ties with Europe its economy depends on.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US think tank, said that reports of more direct Chinese support for Russia come against the backdrop of the Russia-led “Okean-2024” international naval exercises.

China has provided three ships, one vessel, and 15 aircraft for the exercises, which have been described as the largest navy drills in the post-Soviet era.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of Okean-2024 on September 10 and accused the US of placing pressure on Russia and the PRC, necessitating the conduct of joint naval exercises,” the ISW said.