US: "If China Does Not Cooperate in COVID-19 Origin Investigation, We Will Respond Accordingly"

"China May Face International Isolation"
Russia to Impose Additional Sanctions Related to Navalny

Jake Sullivan, U.S. White House National Security Advisor [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Jake Sullivan, the U.S. White House National Security Advisor, urged China to cooperate in investigations related to the origin of COVID-19. Regarding Russia, he announced that additional sanctions would be imposed in connection with the crackdown on opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

On the 20th (local time), in an interview with CNN, Advisor Sullivan warned that if China does not cooperate with the investigation into the origin of COVID-19, it will face international isolation.

He said, "If it turns out that China refuses to fulfill its international obligations, we will have to consider responding as well," adding, "We will do so in cooperation with our allies and partners."

Sullivan continued, "What we want to do is to continue gathering support from the international community," and said that at this point, the U.S. will not threaten or issue an ultimatum to China.

The Group of Seven (G7) recently urged China to cooperate with further investigations, stating at their summit that the World Health Organization's (WHO) investigation into the origin of COVID-19 has not progressed properly due to China's lack of cooperation.

U.S. President Joe Biden also ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct additional investigations into the origin of COVID-19 on the 26th of last month. At that time, President Biden pressured China by stating that the possibility of the COVID-19 virus leaking from a laboratory was also under consideration.

Furthermore, Sullivan said that the U.S. will impose new sanctions related to Russia's attempted poisoning of Navalny.

Advisor Sullivan said that after Russia's attempt to poison Navalny, the U.S. imposed sanctions and rallied European allies as part of a joint effort to make Russia pay a price, adding, "We are preparing another sanctions package to apply to this incident."

Earlier, although U.S. President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Geneva, Switzerland on the 16th, suggesting cooperation between the two countries, they expressed their intention to maintain pressure on Russia regarding human rights issues.

In particular, U.S. political circles, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, are pressuring the Biden administration, saying that no additional sanctions have been issued even after the early June deadline set by Congress for implementing sanctions against Russia.

Advisor Sullivan did not specify the timing or details of the sanctions. He said, "We will impose additional sanctions related to chemical weapons," and that sanctions related to Navalny will be imposed at an appropriate time.

Previously, the U.S. imposed sanctions against Russia in March in connection with the attempted poisoning of Navalny.

Advisor Sullivan also said that the U.S. will maintain sanctions against Russian entities involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Nord Stream 2 is an underwater gas pipeline project that transports Russian natural gas to Germany. The U.S. has opposed it, arguing that increased exports of Russian natural gas to Europe would make Europe more dependent on Russia for energy, thereby increasing Russia's influence.

Meanwhile, regarding the election of hardline Islamic fundamentalist Ebrahim Raisi in the Iranian presidential election, Advisor Sullivan expressed the opinion that this will not affect the ongoing efforts to restore the Iran nuclear deal.

He said, "We believe in diplomacy. It is the best means to resolve the issue," adding, "If Iran does not comply with the nuclear-related agreements, not only the U.S. but also the international community will isolate Iran."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.