US President Joe Biden's administration recently expressed concern to China about evidence that Chinese companies sold non-lethal equipment to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.
CNN writes about this with reference to sources familiar with American and European intelligence.
Among the equipment sold are bulletproof vests and helmets, but without the powerful military aid that Russia has requested.
According to one US official, the transfer of equipment "causes concern", but at this stage it is not clear in Washington whether the central government in Beijing is aware of it. Although state-owned enterprises dominate China's economy, not all of them are subject to constant supervision.
Some U.S. officials believe the Chinese government knows about the equipment transfer and should take steps to stop it, a second official said.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will travel to China in the coming weeks, and the transfer of equipment is expected to be a topic of discussion, the second official said.
If the Biden administration concludes that China's central government is deliberately aiding and abetting the Russian invasion -- or knowingly suggesting such assistance -- the administration must decide how hard to respond. Since the first days of the war, Biden's top aides have warned China about the potential consequences if China decides to support Russia in the conflict.
The US believes that at the beginning of the war, China intended to sell lethal weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, an American government official said. But China has scaled back its plans since then, and the Biden administration sees that as a victory.
US intelligence officials have consistently stated that they have seen no evidence that China was providing death to Russia.