According to a new report, Chinese companies, including at least one linked to the Chinese Communist Party, have sent assault rifles, drone parts and army corps to Russia.
Data obtained by Politico indicates that these shipments to Russia took place between June and December 2022, well after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is looking to Afghanistan to expand China’s growing economic interests. (Photo by Thomas Peter/Reuters)
State-owned defense contractor China North Industries Group Corporation Limited sent CQ-A rifles to Russian company Tekhkrim in June 2022, according to customs data. Although these rifles were labeled as “civilian shotguns”, they were reportedly used by Chinese paramilitary police.
The data also showed that Chinese companies sent Russian entities 12 shipments of drone parts and more than 12 tons of body armor.
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It is not clear from customs data that Beijing is shipping these items to Russia for the express purpose of aiding its war effort in Ukraine, as this equipment may be labeled as “dual-use”.
Fox News Digital has contacted the US State Department for comment on the latest developments.
FILE: Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk to each other during their meeting in Beijing, China February 4, 2022. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The report comes after officials said last month that the United States was “confident” that China was considering providing lethal aid to Russia to support Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
The United States and its NATO allies have repeatedly warned that any nation – including China – will face swift and severe economic sanctions if found aiding Russia’s war effort.
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Beijing has struggled to balance maintaining constructive relations with the West while condemning the United States to “hysteria”, as Beijing did over the downing of the surveillance balloon and accusing him of aggravating the war by providing defensive aid to Ukraine.
Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.