Between March and July 2023, more than 10 thousand monthly transactions of critical equipment were carried out between these two countries
Nothing seems to stop the enormous growth of Russia’s weapons industry, which produces more critical equipment now than ever since the invasion of Ukraine began.
This growth, which Western sanctions have not curbed, is due to new major international partners. Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and India have supplied a lot of electronic parts and components to Russia, but there is one country that stands out.
According to a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), think tank North American, cited by The Economist, China has a leading role in the success of Russian troops in Ukraine.
“Chinese companies have supplied Russia with semiconductors that are crucial for the manufacture of various weapons systems. They also supplied navigation equipment, parts for jets and more generic products, such as ball bearings, used in artillery pieces and other equipment”, writes the British publication.
According to records analyzed by CSIS, imports of critical hardware products, called Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, come in large numbers from China, a country that says it is neutral in relation to the war in Eastern Europe.
Between March and July 2023, more than 10 thousand monthly transactions of these machines took place between the two countries. The increase in exchanges of these products between Moscow and Beijing, notes the publication, coincided with Xi Jinping’s visit to the Russian capital, in March last year, where the leaders of the two countries met.
The Economist notes that “tightening” sanctions is difficult, as Russia is increasingly using lower-quality equipment that is also used for civilian purposes, and because Ukraine’s own defense industry depends to some extent on , of imports from China.
