US accuses China of supplying Russia directly with military goods for the first time

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 16 Sep 2024 by Alex Teddy

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Various events surrounding the relationship between Russia and China have unfolded recently that demonstrate the important role of China in the Ukraine war—and the role both countries have in supporting each other’s strategic objectives. On September 11, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell remarked for the first time after a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels that China was directly supplying the Russian military. He clarified that this went beyond the earlier allegations of supplying “dual-use goods”, a somewhat nebulous term that western officials have used to describe components and equipment that can be used in military hardware or combat but have civilian applications, too. Some of these are equipment such as body armor, rifle scopes and so forth, but also include supplies of goods like electronic chips that have more general uses. These supplies are significant: 90% of Russia’s microelectronics which it would otherwise be completely unable to obtain come from China. Now, America is for the first time accusing China of supplying Russia directly with military goods, by saying that Chinese lethal aid is being used directly on the battlefield with Ukraine. This has also had an impact on American domestic politics. US House Foreign Affairs committee subgroup Chairman Tom Kean Jr, along with other American politicians, stated that China’s military industrial complex was responsible for fueling a “genocide” in eastern Europe. These allegations have been followed with reporting that Russia was producing a new model of suicide drone with a Chinese engine and other Chinese components. It is estimated that 2500 units have been manufactured so far, so this demonst...