German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has threatened Beijing with sanctions during a meeting in Brussels, where top EU diplomats gathered to discuss recent intelligence suggesting that China is providing military support to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
Ahead of the meeting on Monday, a senior EU official indicated that “reports from intelligence sources” pointed to the “existence of a factory inside China producing drones that are shipped to Russia.” The unnamed source described the allegations as “convincing” and “credible,” but admitted there was no clear evidence of direct military cooperation between China and Russia.
Baerbock told reporters after the EU foreign ministers’ meeting that the bloc would take action if such cooperation is confirmed.
“We are introducing further sanctions against Iran and are also making this clear regarding Chinese drone aid, because this too must and will have consequences,” Baerbock said, without providing further details.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also weighed in on the issue, warning Beijing against making a “big mistake” and emphasizing the importance of “sending a message to China to prevent escalation.”
China has dismissed the accusations as “baseless speculations and vilification,” insisting that it “handles the export of military products prudently and responsibly.”
“We have never provided lethal weapons to any party of the conflict, and strictly control the export of military and dual-use drones in accordance with laws and regulations,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.
Amid Western accusations of supplying Russia with goods applicable to weapons production, China introduced a ban in July on the export of all civilian drones that could potentially be used for military purposes.
“I would like to reaffirm that on the Ukraine crisis, China upholds an objective and just position and has actively promoted peace talks, which stands in sharp contrast with certain countries who apply double standards and keep adding fuel to the fire on the Ukraine crisis,” Lin Jian added.
Last month, the US imposed sanctions on two Chinese firms that manufacture drone engines and parts, claiming these companies ship their products to Russia, enabling its military to attack Ukraine with long-range unmanned aerial vehicles. In September, the US announced fresh sanctions on Iran in response to Tehran’s alleged supply of ballistic missiles and UAVs to Moscow. The US has also accused North Korea of supplying artillery shells and more recently sending troops to assist Russia.
The Ukrainian military is almost entirely dependent on foreign aid, while the government relies on international funding to keep agencies operational and employees paid. Since February 2022, the US has allocated $182.99 billion for Ukraine, according to Pentagon figures, of which $86.7 billion has been disbursed. European nations, including the UK, have contributed around $127 billion to Ukraine over the same period, according to data from Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy.