The United States has imposed sanctions on two Chinese drone suppliers and their alleged Russian partners. This is the first time Chinese companies have been punished for supplying complex weapons systems to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
Washington has long accused China of supporting Russia's military efforts by supplying dual-use goods and components that could be used in weapons production, which Beijing denies.
But in a statement on Thursday, the US Treasury Department accused Chinese firms of being directly involved in arms sales to Moscow.
Chinese companies collaborated with Russian defense firms to produce Moscow's Harpy series long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, the department said in a statement. The drones were designed, developed and manufactured in China before being sent to Russia for use on the battlefield, it said. “Russia has used Harpy in its brutal war against Ukraine, destroying critical infrastructure and causing mass casualties,” the report said.
“While the United States has previously imposed sanctions on (Chinese) entities that provide critical resources to the Russian military industrial base, these are the first U.S. sanctions imposed on (Chinese) entities that directly develop and manufacture complex weapons systems in partnership with Russian companies."
Washington has long accused China of supporting Russia's military efforts by supplying dual-use goods and components that could be used in weapons production, which Beijing denies.
But in a statement on Thursday, the US Treasury Department accused Chinese firms of being directly involved in arms sales to Moscow.
Chinese companies collaborated with Russian defense firms to produce Moscow's Harpy series long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, the department said in a statement. The drones were designed, developed and manufactured in China before being sent to Russia for use on the battlefield, it said. “Russia has used Harpy in its brutal war against Ukraine, destroying critical infrastructure and causing mass casualties,” the report said.
“While the United States has previously imposed sanctions on (Chinese) entities that provide critical resources to the Russian military industrial base, these are the first U.S. sanctions imposed on (Chinese) entities that directly develop and manufacture complex weapons systems in partnership with Russian companies."
The United States accused another sanctioned Chinese company, Redlepus Vector Industry Shenzhen Co. in collaboration with a Russian defense firm to facilitate the supply of drones to Russia.
The U.S. Treasury Department said Redlepus also shipped shipments of components that could be used in drones to Russia, including aircraft engines, automatic data processing machine parts and electrical components through Russian defense company TSK Vector.
Redlepus hung up when CNN called him for comment.
The US also introduced punitive measures against the owner of TSK Vektor, a Russian citizen, and another company he owns.
Previously, the United States imposed sanctions against TSK Vektor in December last year for helping Russia acquire attack drones.
“We have been seeing for some time Chinese companies supplying Russian companies with components that are then used to make equipment, weapons and other components that Russia can use in its war,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday.
“This was the first time we saw a Chinese company itself produce weapons that were then used on the battlefield by Russia.”
The U.S. Treasury Department said Redlepus also shipped shipments of components that could be used in drones to Russia, including aircraft engines, automatic data processing machine parts and electrical components through Russian defense company TSK Vector.
Redlepus hung up when CNN called him for comment.
The US also introduced punitive measures against the owner of TSK Vektor, a Russian citizen, and another company he owns.
Previously, the United States imposed sanctions against TSK Vektor in December last year for helping Russia acquire attack drones.
“We have been seeing for some time Chinese companies supplying Russian companies with components that are then used to make equipment, weapons and other components that Russia can use in its war,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday.
“This was the first time we saw a Chinese company itself produce weapons that were then used on the battlefield by Russia.”
