London: British Defence Minister Grant Shapps accused China on Wednesday of providing or preparing to provide Russia with lethal aid for use in its war against Ukraine. This marks the first time Britain has accused China of such actions, highlighting a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
Shapps, speaking at a conference in London, stated that U.S. and British defence intelligence had evidence suggesting “lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine.” He added, “I think it is a significant development.” While Shapps did not provide specific evidence to support his assertion, he noted a 64% increase in trade between China and Russia since the start of the Ukraine war, suggesting that “they are covering each other’s back.”
“We should be concerned about that because in the earlier days of this war China would like to present itself as a moderating influence on” Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added.
In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London dismissed Shapps’ comments as “totally groundless” and accused Britain of spreading “baseless accusations”.
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The White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, acknowledged concerns that China could provide “weapons directly – lethal assistance – to Russia,” but clarified, “we have not seen that to date.”
Senior U.S. officials have previously stated that China is supporting Russia’s war effort by providing Moscow with drone and missile technology, satellite imagery, and machine tools. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged a “new era” of partnership, expressing opposition to the United States on various security issues and sharing common views on Taiwan and Ukraine.
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Despite their proclaimed “no limits” relationship just days before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Beijing had, until now, avoided providing actual weapons and ammunition for Russia’s war effort.
Shapps argued that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea had been emboldened by what he described as a quarter of a century of “western timidity” towards repression at home and aggression abroad. He emphasized the need for a global awakening, urging all NATO members to increase their defence spending to 2.5% of their gross domestic product.
