Xi Jinping's visit to France will once again send Western diplomats back to a question that has been nagging at them for the past two years: Is it possible to dissuade China from further aiding Russia? The French president's talks with his Chinese counterpart on Monday, May 6, and Tuesday, May 7, will focus on the Chinese economy's support for Russia's arms industry. "The president will raise concerns about the activities of certain Chinese companies that could be directly involved in or contribute significantly to the Russian war effort," confirmed the Elysée Palace.
More than the direct supply of weapons – a red line that China has seemed careful not to cross until now – it is the supply of machine tools and components for the production of these weapons that is the focus of attention. Thanks to its companies' commercial transactions, Beijing has enabled Moscow to turn around its arms industry and gain an advantage in the conflict.
On this point, Washington is urging European capitals to be more direct with Beijing. The US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell told reporters while in Paris on Thursday, May 2 that these were not "isolated" incidents, which he said the US believed had helped Russia rebuild its military. He said the activities were continuing.
Campbell said the the West has to make China face up to its responsibilities, and that given France's "determination" to play an important role in Ukraine, Macron should be "clear" in expressing concerns in relation to Russia's invasion.
While Europe has largely closed its doors to trade with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, China has largely taken up the slack, including in sectors that have revived Russian factories producing weapons and vehicles for the front line. China's exports to Russia jumped by 64.2% between 2021 and 2023.
In recent weeks, official US sources have pointed to the role of Chinese groups such as Dalian Machine Tool in supplying machine tools used in ballistic missile production. In the last quarter of 2023, 70% of Russia's machine tool imports – which amounted to around $900 million – came from China.
The same American sources have accused companies such as Wuhan Global Sensor Technology, Wuhan Tongsheng Technology and video surveillance giant Hikvision of supplying optical components used by Moscow for its tanks and armored vehicles. China is also said to have supplied its neighbor with drone engines and thrusters for its cruise missiles. According to Washington, Russia was able to rapidly expand its production of artillery ammunition in 2023 thanks to China's supply of nitrocellulose, used in the composition of shell powders. The US finally considers that China is helping Russia to improve its satellite capabilities, and has supplied Moscow directly with imaging equipment for the war in Ukraine.
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