Two European security officials and documents revealed that Chinese drone experts traveled to Russia.
This is to participate in technical development work for military drones within a state-owned arms manufacturing company subject to Western sanctions.
Shipments via Russian intermediary
The two officials said that Chinese experts visited AI.E.M.Z COBOL has been used by the arms industry on more than six occasions. These visits have occurred since the second quarter of last year.
During that period, COBOL also received shipments of Chinese-made attack and reconnaissance drones through a Russian intermediary.
The two officials also said that the cooperation indicates a strengthening relationship between COBOL and Chinese companies. This relationship is crucial in developing the marches that have proven vital in the Russian war in Ukraine.
In addition, documents, including commercial invoices and bank statements, showed that COBOL received more than a dozen single-use attack drones on bombing missions last year. These drones were produced by Sichuan A.E.E, a Chinese marching company.
According to Monday officials and documents, the drones were supplied by the Russian defense procurement company T.S.K Victor.
This company is subject to US and European sanctions.
China: Our position is objective towards all parties
On the other hand, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had no knowledge of this cooperation.
She added in a statement that China “has always maintained an objective and fair position on the Ukrainian crisis. It has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict.
It also strictly controls dual-use items, including drone exports.
It is noteworthy that the US government and several European governments have repeatedly expressed their concern about Chinese companies. These concerns relate to supplying Russian companies with weapons manufacturing materials or marches and weapons.
It also imposed sanctions on some of them.
While Beijing has repeatedly stressed that it does not support one party against another in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
She stressed that she seeks to establish peace and open the doors to dialogue.
