Not Just Drones: All of China’s Military Aid to Russia. Economist Report
Without China's support, Russia's defense industry would be severely compromised. This is what emerges from an in-depth study by the weekly The Economist
Many will remember that shortly before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Putin went to China to visit his colleague Xi, with whom he established a partnership defined as "without limits". In hindsight, that was interpreted as the green light given by Beijing to Moscow's military adventure, but also as the signal that China would support its ally's war efforts, although not openly but above all in a political and diplomatic way. As a new article in the Economist points out, for some time now, however, the Dragon seems to have decided to take a further leap, deciding to actively support the Russian military machine, even if trying to keep this role hidden to avoid being hit by international sanctions.
Chinese drones and components
As The Economist writes, drones are a central weapon in Russian attacks, such as the one on June 10 in Kyiv, when nearly 500 unmanned aircraft were launched against targets in the Ukrainian capital.
The Shahed drones, of Iranian origin but produced in Russia, initially contained some Western-made components, which are now increasingly of Chinese origin. One example is the antennas, whose Chinese-made microchips replace the American ones previously smuggled into Russia. According to the Ukrainian intelligence agency HUR, a recent drone analyzed contained only two American components out of fifteen, highlighting Moscow's growing dependence on Beijing for military technology.
Cautious but strategic support
As the British newspaper notes, China has taken a cautious approach, avoiding large-scale transfers of munitions or lethal weapons to avoid incurring Western sanctions.
However, it has been supplying Russia with critical components since at least 2023, including civilian drones and, according to Western sources, even small quantities of artillery ammunition and military drones. For example, Chinese mortar shells have been found in Ukraine, although it is unclear whether they were supplied directly or via third countries.
Collaboration on military drones
A case in point is the Garpiya-3 drone, developed in China by a Russian company with the support of Chinese suppliers. This aircraft, which is essentially a copy of the Iranian Shahed, has been tested in China, and two Chinese companies involved in its production have been sanctioned by the US.
In May last year, former British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps declassified information to expose this collaboration, confirming that the Garpiya-3 is not a dual-use drone but a lethal system made available to Russia by Beijing to strike targets in Ukraine.
Components and technologies for the Russian war industry
China supplies Moscow not only with drones, but also with machinery, chemicals and optical fibers essential for tethered drones resistant to electronic countermeasures.
As The Economist writes, since 2023 China has become Russia's main supplier of industrial equipment, accounting for 80-90% of machinery imports. Beijing also dominates the market for nitrocellulose, a key ingredient in explosives.
Technology Exchange and Russian Fears
Of course, Beijing's generosity is not unconditional. In exchange for the aforementioned support, China draws valuable lessons from the ongoing conflict, for example by accessing Western technologies captured in battle such as American guided rockets or European cruise missiles. Materials, data and information that will be very useful in the event of a military confrontation with the Western bloc, for example when Beijing decides to invade Taiwan.
However, the Economist also points out, the Sino-Russian relationship is not without tension. Some members of the Russian elite fear the growing dependence on Beijing and suspect that the latter conducts espionage activities, so much so that the FSB has arrested Russian scientists on charges of clandestinely passing military secrets to China.
A precarious balance
The Economist's conclusion is that Beijing remains an indispensable ally for Russia. Without Chinese support, the Russian defense industry would be seriously compromised. The No. 2 superpower, however, continues to balance support for Moscow with the need to maintain stable relations with the West, still necessary in the supreme perspective of maintaining its trade balance, and this places limits on the otherwise "unlimited" Russian-Chinese partnership.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/cina-supporto-russia-difesa/ on Sat, 21 Jun 2025 20:40:24 +0000.