China is neutral in the Ukraine war.
But a new media report shows that Beijing apparently continues to deliver material to Russia that can be used militarily.
Data from Russian customs put Beijing in need of explanation: China has therefore supplied extensive components that can also be used militarily
The problem: Beijing pretends not to support Russia in the war against Ukraine.
This text is
available to IPPEN.MEDIA
as part of a cooperation with the
China.Table Professional Briefing -
China.Table
first published it
on February 7, 2023.
Beijing – The Chinese leadership has been walking a fine line since the outbreak of the Ukraine war. It is officially neutral, but blames the Americans.
She relegates early knowledge of Russia's intentions to the realm of fables, but refrains from condemning the aggression.
A Wall Street Journal
report
now reveals new contradictions in Beijing's handling of the conflict.
The newspaper has data from Russian customs that is supposed to prove imports of armaments from the People's Republic of China.
The newspaper quotes from a list of "tens of thousands of shipments" of goods that may have both commercial and military uses.
Not all, but most of these supplies came directly from China.
The
Wall Street Journal
refers to customs records provided by the Washington-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS).
C4ADS is a non-profit research organization that studies global conflicts using data-driven analysis and evidence-based reporting.
China's head of state and party leader: This is how Xi Jinping rose to become the most powerful man in the world
China's head of state and party leader: This is how Xi Jinping rose to become the most powerful man in the world
China and the Ukraine war: What role does Beijing play?
Navigation devices for military transport helicopters, telescopic antennas for military vehicles, radar devices or components for combat aircraft were shipped to Russia last year.
Such western-sourced supplies would violate US economic sanctions.
China, on the other hand, faces a major loss of credibility, primarily because the country denies allegations that it is supporting the Russian military in its campaign in Ukraine.
The fact that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled his planned trip to China at short notice could also have something to do with the C4ADS report.
Among other things, the institute meticulously examines publicly available data.
"Despite international scrutiny and sanctions protocols, reliable global trade data shows that Chinese state-owned defense contractors continue to supply militarily-useful parts to sanctioned Russian defense contractors," C4ADS' Naomi Garcia told the
Journal
.
"It was established that these Russian companies used the same type of parts directly in Russia's war in Ukraine."
Report: State and private suppliers from China supply Russia with dual-use components
State-owned companies such as the defense company Poly Technologies, the military supplier JSC Rosoboronexport or the aerospace company AVIC International Holding Corp were also identified as suppliers of dual-use components, as was the private electronics company Fujian Nanan Baofeng Electronic.
In a statement to the newspaper, the managing director of Fujian Baofeng Electronics categorically rejected the allegations.
His company does not manufacture telescopic antennas.
There are also no records of deliveries to Uzbek state defense companies through which trade was conducted according to customs data.
+
Sukhoi Su-35S fighter jet of the Russian army in the Ukraine war: Moscow apparently continues to receive military support from China.
© Russian Defense Ministry Press/Imago
Russia produces a large part of its military equipment domestically, but in certain technical areas such as semiconductors it is urgently dependent on supplies.
Armament goods do not only find their way to Russia from China, but also via countries such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates or, of course, Uzbekistan.
The Kremlin, on the other hand, contradicts assumptions that the dual-use components would cover military needs.
Russia has sufficient technological potential, said a spokesman.
And outrage can also be heard from Beijing.
Allegations that the People's Republic is supplying such goods to Russia are not only without any factual basis, but are purely speculative and are being deliberately exaggerated.
In any case, one has long been opposed to unilateral sanctions that have no basis under international law.
This text was published on February 7, 2023 in the China.Table Professional Briefing - as part of a cooperation, it is now also available to the readers of the IPPEN.MEDIA portals.
Rubric list image: © Russian Defense Ministry Press/Imago