As international sanctions against Russia continue in response to the brutal invasion of Ukraine, concerns are rising about China's potential involvement in the war.
So far, China has kept a diplomatic distance from the unfolding conflict, abstaining in a UN vote condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
However, a US diplomat has claimed that China has some interest in providing Russia with request military and financial assistance.
Though it's not clear whether China intends to actually provide the assistance, US officials remained concerned over China being unlikely to cut off its support to Russia entirely. Here's what China might provide as aid to Russia.
What aid will China provide Russia?
Russia has asked for pre-packaged, non-perishable military food kits, as part of its requested assistance.
According to one source, the request for food might be one that China would be willing to meet. However, China's desire to avoid any economic consequences - such as souring relationships with Europe or the United States - might limit it from providing more assistance.
Officials are also monitoring whether China provides economic and diplomatic relief for Russia in other forms, similar to abstaining from votes at the United Nations.
Could China supply drones to Russia?
US officials claimed that Moscow had asked China for military equipment to support its invasion. However, China has said this is untrue and described the reports as "disinformation".
In fact, in recent years, China has relied more on Russia's military hardware to modernise its own armed forces. Between 2017 and 2021, around 80% of China's arms imports came from Russia.
But China has been expanding its own military production capabilities, with weapons becoming more advanced.
"Its drones, for example, are one area that Russia would be very interested in," said a member at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
However, there is no evidence that Russia has bought any Chinese drones.
Why is the US worried about a China-Russia partnership?
As US president Joe Biden works to isolate and punish Russia for its brutality against Ukraine, officials are worried that China's assistance may help Russia prolong the bloody conflict.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a US delegation met with top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome, to raise concerns about Chinese "support to Russia in the wake of the invasion, as well as the implications that any such support would have for" China's relationship with the US.
China has increased its diplomatic efforts in the past days - with a call last week between Xi and the leaders of France and Germany - but the US has remained sceptical over it, especially with US officials saying over the weekend they had information that Russia had asked China for military support in its invasion efforts.
Both the Chinese and Russian governments publicly denied that the request had been made.
