Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday and raised concerns this week with Chinese officials over the country’s support for Russia.

Why it matters: Beijing has maintained warm diplomatic ties with Moscow and provided critical support to its defense industrial base as Russia has waged its war in Ukraine.

• “Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support,” Blinken said at a press conference in Beijing Friday.

Driving the news: Blinken said he reiterated the U.S.’ “serious concern” over China providing weapons components to Russia during discussions with Chinese officials Friday.

• “China is the top supplier of machine tools, microelectronics, nitrocellulose — which is critical to making munitions and rocket propellants — and other dual-use items that Moscow is using to ramp up its defense industrial base,” he added.
• China has also provided harbor to a U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo ship that is believed to be carrying North Korean munitions, Reuters reported.