According to Reuters sources, Russia trained Chinese special forces within the past year. This information comes from a report signed by the Russian Minister of Defense, which was obtained by two anonymous European agents. The report indicates the involvement of up to four Chinese and Russian generals.
The participation of such high-ranking officials in exercises related to the Ukraine war highlights the significance of this cooperation for both Russia and China, sparking concern in Europe. However, both Russia and China deny that any such exercise took place.
This collaboration between Russia and China underscores China’s delicate diplomatic position concerning Europe. On one hand, China is a key economic partner to European nations, while on the other, it is a military ally of Russia, a country viewed as the primary threat to the European Union since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Russia possesses extensive combat experience, while China boasts a large, technologically advanced military that has not seen combat in over 40 years. The EU has already imposed sanctions on Chinese companies it believes are supporting Russia’s war effort.
A European official stated that Europe “should stop viewing China primarily through an economic lens and focus on its role as a ‘key facilitator of Russia’s war’.”