Intelligence gathered by the EU Intelligence and Situation Center (EU-INTCEN) reveals that there is a factory in China that builds long-range military drones.
The EU suspects that the drones will end up being used by Russia on the Ukrainian front.
The new information means that China has reached a new level in its military support for Russia.
This may mean strict countermeasures from the EU, because the export of military products to Russia is a so-called “red line” for the EU, which must not be crossed.
The EU has already imposed additional sanctions on, for example, Iran, which supplied missiles and drones to Russia.
In the case of China, sanctions could be targeted at Chinese companies and individuals involved in drone production, for example. Broader export and import restrictions can also be considered.
According to an EU diplomatic source, extensive trade restrictions could be politically difficult because member countries’ line on China is not consistent and all 27 member states must agree to the sanctions.
In the EU, Hungary and Italy represent the most lenient China line, while France and the Netherlands have the strictest line. Germany has also recently become more critical of China than before.
According to a diplomatic source, one effective means against China can be to bring the matter to the public, because China does not want public disapproval.
The official line
Officially, China has a neutral attitude towards Russia’s war of aggression.
China has also repeatedly denied helping Russia militarily and says it supports Ukraine’s sovereignty.
In fact, China is known to supply Russia with, among other things, critical technology, dual-use products, military equipment and airplanes.
“China denies everything and lies to everyone’s face”, one diplomatic source describes China’s actions.
According to him, “Russia’s military industry would not work without China”.
Information to be verified
News agency Reuters already reported in September, based on its intelligence sources, that Russia and China have launched a joint development project for the development of long-range drones, which are to be used in Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The drones are manufactured in a factory in China, and Russia has already tested their use.
Developing technology.
Drones have become an increasingly significant part of warfare. Illustration image.
PHOTO: Kreeta Karvala
Now the EU’s intelligence also received confirmation that military drones are manufactured in a Chinese factory, which are suspected to be used by Russia on the Ukrainian front.
According to an EU diplomatic source, the intelligence information delivered to the member states this week still needs to be verified.
The source says that it is necessary to verify, among other things, whether Chinese military drones have already been sent to Russia, and what the Chinese leadership knows about it.
“Sometimes we get answers from the Chinese, sometimes we don’t,” describes the EU diplomat.
“It is hard to believe that this would happen without the knowledge of the Chinese leadership,” says another diplomatic source.
The foreign ministers of the EU countries will discuss the Chinese drone issue at their meeting on Monday.
The ministers are also supposed to discuss the EU’s response to China.
“As soon as there is evidence, we will start to react,” says the EU diplomat.