China sends weapons and military equipment to Russia
While Chinese President Xi Jinping announces that he is going to Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the American site Politico reveals arms sales from China to Russia. REUTERS - TINGSHU WANG
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Chinese companies, including one linked to the Beijing government, have sent Russian entities 1,000 assault rifles and other equipment that could be used for military purposes, including drone parts and bulletproof vests, according to trade and customs data obtained by Politico.
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The information given by the American site Politico comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping announces that he will travel to Moscow next week to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, his first official visit to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
This is the first time that it has been confirmed that China is sending weapons, such as rifles, ballistic equipment - bulletproof vests - to Russian companies, although it is impossible to prove that this is concretely in support of the Russian war effort.
Beijing also continues to send previously undeclared drones, drone parts and "dual-use" equipment, i.e. commercial items that could also be used on the battlefield in Ukraine.
No China Exposure to Western Retaliation
The sale of dual-use items allows China to increase its aid to Moscow without suffering retaliation from Western countries. U.S. and European leaders have warned Beijing against supporting Russia's military efforts in Ukraine.
A few weeks ago, they warned that China was considering sending weapons to the Russian military, which could potentially change the nature of fighting on the ground in Ukraine.
The Chinese embassy in Washington said in a statement that Beijing was committed to promoting peace talks in Ukraine. The embassy spokesman said that "China was not the source of the crisis and was not supplying weapons to any of the parties to the conflict."
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