- Reality Czech
- BBC News
image source, Reuters
China rejects allegations made by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that it is considering sending weapons to help Russia wage war in Ukraine.
However, there is information indicating that China may provide intelligence assistance to Russian forces already fighting in Ukraine. and is stepping up to become an important trading partner of Russia
Will China send weapons to help Russia?
China has expanded its military production capabilities. And is currently considered the world’s fourth largest arms exporter.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, “China’s weapons are becoming more and more advanced”.
“For example, Chinese drones are one of the weapons that Russia would be very interested in.”
The United States said that in the past, Chinese companies had provided “Non-lethal aid” to Russia already and there is new information indicating that The Chinese government may “Lethal Weapon Assistance”
The U.S. government has warned that escalating aid could jeopardize China. “Dire consequences” followed.
Dr Maria Shakina, an economic sanctions expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: China has not openly sent weapons to help Russia. But it may secretly sell high-tech equipment capable of military use to Russia.
“There is evidence that China is an exporter. “semiconductor” or semiconductor the largest to Russia This is done through shell companies in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates,” she said.
“Some Chinese companies also supply drones to Russia. by using the legal gap between military and civilian purposes.”
The Center for Advanced Defense Studies in the US says Chinese companies may supply Russia with electronic components for use in anti-aircraft missile radar systems.
The United States had previously sanctioned a Chinese firm accused of sending Ukrainian satellite images to the Wagner mercenary group, which helps Russia fight Ukraine.
How does China help the Russian economy?
After Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year, Western nations imposed sanctions in response to Russia, including a ban on fuel imports. and exporting high-tech products to Russia
Western companies have completely cut ties with Russia. As a result, trade figures between Russia and the United States United Kingdom and European Union (EU) member states plummet in 2022.
However, overall trade between Russia and China in 2022 reached a record high of $190 billion. or an increase of 30% compared to 2021
Imports of Chinese goods to Russia also rose 13 percent to $76 billion. Russian exports to China rose 43 percent to $114 billion.
As Russia’s trade with the West plummets in 2022, China has become Russia’s largest trading partner.
How much oil and gas does China buy from Russia?
It will also sell natural gas to China by 50 percent in 2022 via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, and crude oil exports to China will increase by 10 percent compared to the previous year.
Rising volumes of fuel energy trade with China have offset losses in oil and gas sales to the EU that Russia lost last year.
In 2021, Russian gas accounts for 40% of total EU gas imports. But that figure drops to just 15% by 2022.
EU oil purchases from Russia accounted for 14 percent of total imports in 2022, down from 26 percent in 2021.
image source, Getty Images
Nearly half of the Russian government’s annual revenue comes from oil and natural gas sales.
Seven of the world’s leading industrialized countries, or G7, including the EU and Australia Has set a ceiling on the price of Russian oil transported by sea. with the goal of cutting Russian government revenues In order not to spend money on the war in Ukraine
However, China has refused to comply with such measures. and purchase crude oil from Russia according to world market prices
The two nations have entered into an agreement to build a new gas pipeline, dubbed “Power of Siberia 2.” The first Power of Siberia pipeline began operation in 2019 under a 30-year contract worth more than $400 billion. US dollar
However, it is unclear when the new gas pipeline from Siberia will go into operation.
