China’s defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assault on Ukraine, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, “should ring alarm bells for those of us who call the Indo-Pacific area home.”

“Even while Russia was obviously ready to attack Ukraine, President Xi and President Putin declared that their friendship was, and I quote, ‘beyond bounds,'” according to Blinken.

He made it clear that the United States is not looking for a fight or a new Cold War with China.

“Our task is to prove once again, that democracy can meet urgent challenges, create opportunity, advance human dignity, that the future belongs to those who believe in freedom and that all countries will be free to chart their own paths without coercion,” said Blinken.

“We are not looking for conflict or a new Cold War. To the contrary, we’re determined to avoid both.”

“Even as President Putin’s war continues, we will remain focused on the most serious long-term challenge to the international order – and that’s posed by the People’s Republic of China.”