South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham mentioned he would assist President Joe Biden "placed on the desk" the implications China will face if Beijing are discovered to have assisted Russia in its battle in opposition to Ukraine.

Chatting with Fox Information' Sean Hannity on Monday, Graham, a Republican, mentioned he can be keen to be Biden's "finest ally" within the Senate on the subject of drawing up a listing of how the U.S. would react if China does "bail out" the "battle prison" Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Graham was talking after a number of information shops had reported that U.S. officers informed them Moscow had requested China for monetary help and army assist following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Each Beijing and Moscow have denied the experiences

Graham urged the Biden administration to not "make the identical mistake" with Beijing because it did with Moscow and reveal instantly how it will impose sanctions on China.

A number of Republicans had criticized Biden for not threatening to impose stricter sanctions in opposition to Russia sooner, and solely saying plans to take action simply days earlier than the invasion.

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), a member of the Senate Choose Committee on Intelligence, described Biden's earlier sanctions—following the popularity by Putin of breakaway Ukrainian areas as unbiased—as "too little, too late" in a February 22 assertion. The invasion occurred on February 24.

"For those who imagine the Chinese language are going to assist Putin survive by offering army gear, financial help [...] placed on the desk, for China to learn, the sanctions that can come your approach when you assist Putin," Graham mentioned on Monday.

"I'll aid you as a Republican, Mr. President, President Biden, if you'll write down sanctions, secondary sanctions in opposition to China, what is going to occur to the Chinese language economic system in the event that they bail out this battle prison Putin. I will likely be your finest ally in america Senate.

"Write it down now so China can learn it, as a result of no one believes you until you write it down," Graham added.

The experiences got here as White Home nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan flew out to Rome, Italy, on Monday to talk to his Chinese language counterpart, Yang Jiechi, about Russia's battle with Ukraine.

In keeping with The Guardian, a U.S. official expressed issues that China "already determined" that it was going to offer monetary and army assist to Russia, and that they "underscored" their intent through the talks.

"The query actually is whether or not they are going to go additional," the unnamed official added.

Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese language Embassy within the U.S., beforehand mentioned that he had "by no means heard" of the claims that Moscow had requested Beijing for army gear and financial help. The Chinese language Overseas Ministry accused the U.S. of "spreading disinformation" with the claims.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov additionally denied experiences Russia had requested China for army help in relation to assaults in Ukraine.

"Russia possesses its personal unbiased potential to proceed the operation. As we mentioned, it's going based on plan and will likely be accomplished on time and in full," he mentioned.

The White Home has been contacted for remark.

graham biden china
Lindsey Graham (L) mentioned he'll assist President Joe Biden (R) if the latter writes down what penalties China will face if Beijing is discovered to have assisted Russia in its battle in opposition to Ukraine.NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Pictures