Chinese state media report that China is now open to closer military cooperation with Russia. On Sunday, the Minister of Defense in Russia met with President Vladimir Putin.
– China is willing to cooperate with Russia to maintain security and stability regionally and globally, says China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu. This is reported by the Chinese media on Monday morning.
Putin praised the military cooperation when he received China’s defense minister in the Kremlin on Sunday evening.
The fresh defense minister has been under US sanctions since 2018. Reason? Purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia, specifically the state-controlled Rosoboronexport.
According to state Russian media, such as the news agency RIAsays Putin at a meeting – where Defense Minister Sergej Shoigu was also present:
– We work actively through the military departments, regularly exchange information that is useful to us, military-technical cooperation and hold joint exercises at sea, on land and in the air.
Chinese weapons in Ukraine?
Ukrainian forces are finding an increasing number of components from China in Russian weapons used in Ukraine, a senior official in Kiev said on Friday, Reuters reports.
China has repeatedly denied sending military equipment to Russia. NATO and the US say they have seen no signs yet that Beijing is supplying weapons to Moscow, writes Reuters.
Just over a month ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow. He talked about the good relationship with Vladimir Putin – but did not promise to help Russia with weapons to war in Ukraine.
Li Shangfu is the new Minister of Defense in China. According to RIA, he says that the countries have “very strong ties”.
– They surpass the military-political alliances of the Cold War era.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s former spokeswoman Iiuliia Mendel is concerned on Twitter:
The US warns
Li also spoke of the fact that the ties between Russia and China “have already entered a new era”.
– This is my first visit abroad since I took over as Minister of Defence. I chose Russia in particular to emphasize the strategic importance of our relations, says China’s defense minister.
The US has warned China against supplying arms to Russia. Beijing responded by saying it never sells weapons to parties involved in war.
