European officials claim China reduced drone component sales to Western buyers while increasing supplies to Russia, Bloomberg reported on 29 May.
Beijing denies these accusations and says it controls dual-use goods exports, according to the report.
China has consistently avoided condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine and stresses support for peace talks, while maintaining robust economic ties that help Russia offset Western sanctions. Chinese President Xi Jinping also attended the Russian Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2025, as part of a state visit to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier China stopped selling drones to Kyiv and other European countries but continues deliveries to Russia.
“Chinese Mavic is open for Russians, but closed for Ukrainians,” Zelensky said. “On Russian territory there are production lines where Chinese representatives work.”
A European official told media that Zelenskyy’s words match their own assessments. The official said China appears to have cut supplies of certain drone components to Western buyers. These include magnets used in engines. At the same time, China is boosting deliveries to Russia.
Chinese manufacturers began limiting sales of key components to the US and Europe since late 2024. Western officials view this as the first step toward broader export restrictions.
China’s foreign ministry rejected the allegations in a statement.
“China has never provided lethal weapons to any side and strictly controls dual-use goods. China firmly opposes baseless accusations and political manipulations,” he said.
The ministry added that China controls exports of dual-use goods like drones that can be used for military purposes.
Last year, reports emerged that Chinese and Russian companies were working together to develop attack drones. Since then, the US and EU have imposed sanctions on several Chinese firms. The sanctions target companies that help Moscow produce drones and supply critical components.
The US plans to start revoking visas for Chinese students, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced. The move affects students “with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,” Rubio said. The US will also enhance scrutiny of visa applications from China and Hong Kong.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning criticized the decision. She accused the US of acting “under the pretext of ideology and national security.”
China had the second most students in the US of any country in 2024, behind India.
US-China relations in 2025 are marked by heightened strategic competition, especially in trade, technology, and military domains. The Trump administartion views China as its biggest strategic competitor while China seeks selective cooperation but takes a hard line on core issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported on 25 May that China is providing machine tools, special chemicals, gunpowder and components directly to Russian military enterprises.
Oleg Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, said that China supplies weapon components for military enterprises to 20 Russian factories.
The intelligence chief said his agency documented at least five instances of aviation cooperation with China during 2024-2025. These cases involved equipment, spare parts and documentation. Six separate incidents involved large deliveries of special chemicals.
Chinese components dominate Russian drone production. Ivashchenko reported that 80% of critical electronics for Russian drones had Chinese origins at the start of this year.
Chinese officials have denied providing weapons to either side in the war. Zelenskyy responded by adding several Chinese companies to Ukraine’s sanctions list.