House Republicans pressed the Biden administration on Friday to take the necessary steps to keep the Kremlin from helping China expand its nuclear weapons program.
Three House Republican committee heads — Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers of Alabama, Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner of Ohio, and Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul of Texas — wrote a letter this week on the topic, and it was sent to seven Biden administration officials.
In the letter, the lawmakers called on the Pentagon to "utilize the full application of sanctions, export controls, and diplomacy" to block Russian state-owned energy company Rosatom from providing the resources.
They also urged President Joe Biden to acknowledge that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are "working in tandem against the United States." Their recent moves, they argue, constitute a "direct threat."
In recent months, Russia has invaded Ukraine, threatened neighboring European countries, rattled its nuclear saber and withdrawn from the last major nuclear arms control pact with the U.S.
For its part, China's recent actions include high-level hacking, and the ongoing threat to invade nearby Taiwan, an island it has long claimed as part of its own territory without sovereign standing. Beijing has also been accusaed of being aligned with North Korea, whose leadership has repeatedly threatened missile attacks on the U.S.
"The longer we wait to act, the more difficult it will be to address Rosatom's nefarious and malign dealings," the letter read. "Putin uses these funds to fund his war machine and keep his favorite weapons programs on schedule.
"In short, every dollar and euro that Rosatom brings in directly finances the death and destruction we see in Ukraine, China's nuclear weapon expansion, and is a direct threat to the American way of life," the Congress members wrote.
A lawmakers requested a briefing on the administration's Rosatom strategy "no later than April 17, 2023."
U.S. agencies warned in the annual intelligence threat assessment released earlier this month of China's growing relationship with Russia as the Beijing government has sought to expand its global influence.
In addition, The New York Times reported that American officials are worried China is floating the possibility of providing lethal aid to Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping will fly to Moscow next week to meet with Putin -- Xi's first visit to Russia since Putin launched his deadly invasion of Ukraine just over a year ago.
The visit is being viewed in some Western capitals as a clear show of Beijing’s support for Moscow.
Newsmax wires contributed to this report.
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