China is considering the possibility of supplying artillery and drones to Russia. On this subject writing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing unnamed Western officials.
CNN sources familiar with intelligence data claim that China can transfer combat drones and ammunition for small arms to Russia, but not for heavy artillery.
Although Beijing has not yet made a final decision on whether to provide military support to Moscow, the Chinese authorities are already discussing with the Russian side the cost and volume of weapons, according to the channel’s interlocutors.
Since the start of the military conflict with Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly requested drones and ammunition from China, sources told CNN. The channel’s material claims that Chinese leaders have been discussing the issue of arms supply to Moscow over the past few months.
If China agrees to the arms transfer, it will mark increased support from China to Russia, CNN notes. The article points out that Beijing had previously agreed to provide assistance to Moscow only in the form of supplies of non-lethal equipment, in particular helmets and body armor.
In late January, Bloomberg, citing informed sources informed that the United States collected evidence of assistance to Russia from Chinese state-owned enterprises and presented it to the PRC.
By data Spieigel, Chinese drone manufacturer Xi’an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology has agreed to supply 100 prototype ZT-180 drones to the Russian Defense Ministry. Moreover, according to the publication, Xi’an Bingo intends to transfer drone components to Moscow in order to produce around 100 drones in Russia itself every month.
As the WSJ notes, if Beijing decides to supply arms to Russia, such a decision will lead to a breakdown in economic relations between China and the West. At the same time, Chinese President Xi Jinping may decide he cannot let his Russian ally lose in Ukraine, the paper writes. In particular, the Chinese leader could agree to supply arms to Moscow if he feels Western support for Kiev is waning, predicts the WSJ.
That China intends to increase its support for Russia and start supplying it with weapons was reported by CNN on February 19, citing sources familiar with the intelligence data. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken declared that Beijing plans to provide military assistance to Moscow. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, commenting on reports of arms shipments, urged NATO “stop slandering”. US President Joe Biden declared who “does not expect” from China a “major initiative” for the supply of arms to Russia. At the same time, he threatened the PRC with consequences if the country decided to transfer arms. “It would be the same line that everyone would have crossed. In other words, we imposed severe penalties on anyone who did this. <...> We will respond (to China),” Biden stressed.
