The Wall Street Journal writes that China continues to supply and even increased exportsto Russia of goods,
What does it mean?
Thus, according to Chinese customs, in the first fiveChip shipments more than doubled year-over-year in 2022 to about $50 million. Exports of other components, such as printed circuit boards, rose in double-digit percentages.
Also important is aluminum oxide,which is used to make metallic aluminum, an important material for the manufacture of weapons and the aerospace industry. In March, Australia banned its export due to its use in weapons development. Since then, exports of aluminum oxide to Russia have risen sharply, reaching 153,000 tons in May, up from 227 tons in the same month last year, according to Chinese customs data. That is, it is 400 times more than the previous figures.
Thus, many Chinese appliance sellerscontinue cooperation with Russia, both small private companies and extensive state-owned enterprises. Due to incomplete data and complex networks of subsidiaries and intermediaries, it is difficult to track all activities.
Washington non-profit researchersC4ADS, an organization that monitors security threats, has identified one of the suppliers, China Poly Group, a conglomerate controlled by the Chinese central government. Among its subsidiaries is a key Chinese weapons manufacturer and exporter of small arms and missile technology, and more recently, anti-drone laser technology.
Between 2014 and January 2022, the researcherC4ADS Naomi Garcia has identified 281 previously undisclosed shipments of goods that have both civilian and military uses from Poly subsidiaries to Russian defense organizations. One of the latest shipments was at the end of January, and the researchers say it contained antenna parts for the sanctioned Russian defense company Almaz-Antey. Russian customs records verified by C4ADS indicate that parts of the antenna are intended for use in a radar that is part of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. This system was used during the war in Ukraine.
In January, the US State Department introducedsanctions against Poly Technologies for its involvement in the dissemination of rocket technology. Sanctions were also imposed on five Chinese companies: Connec Electronic, King Pai Technology, Sinno Electronics, Winninc Electronic and World Jetta (HK) Logistics for supporting the Russian defense and military sectors before and after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
At the same time, Chinese officials say the country is not selling weapons to Russia, and overall exports from China to Russia have dropped significantly as many Chinese companies do not want to have problems with the US.