The EU and the German government are investigating evidence that China is producing drones for Russia’s war of aggression, and Germany’s Foreign Minister Baerbock is calling for consequences, reports Die Welt.
The German government assumes that China is providing drone assistance to Russia, an allegation China denies.
“This must and will have consequences,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Brussels, stressing that the war in Ukraine is an attack on freedom across Europe and affects the core interests of all European states.
According to diplomats, drone production in China is a joint project between Russia, China, and Iran.
“We have received reports from intelligence sources about the existence of a factory in China that produces drones that are being supplied to Russia and used in the war against Ukraine,” one EU official said. Work is currently underway to find out whether there is direct cooperation between China and Russia in the field of military equipment. If this is confirmed, sanctions could be imposed.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian in Beijing, clarified shortly before the EU foreign ministers’ meeting that “China has always taken a responsible stance and has never provided the parties to the conflict with lethal weapons.”
“China has strictly controlled drones for military purposes and those that can be used for civil and military purposes in accordance with the law. Beijing hopes that certain countries and individuals will not make unfounded speculations against China and will not denigrate the People’s Republic without any factual basis,” Lin further stated.
The EU has already imposed sanctions on Iran for supplying drones and ballistic missiles to Russia, including the state-owned airline Iran Air, with a further measure just approved today, entailing “a prohibition on the export, transfer, supply, or sale from the EU to Iran of components used in the development and production of missiles and UAVs.”
