Chinese companies provide components for Russia and Iran Shahed drones — WSJ
Photo: Chinese companies are openly supplying parts for Russian and Iranian Shahed drones (Getty Images)
Chinese companies are openly supplying components for the production of Shahed-type drones to Iran and Russia, circumventing US and European sanctions, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Little-known small Chinese companies are openly exporting dual-use drone components, including motors, batteries, fiber-optic cables, and microchips, to Iran and Russia, in violation of US sanctions.
One company, Xiamen Victory Technology, even advertised the German-designed Limbach L550 engines used in the Shaheds.
Journalists discovered that on this company’s website, an image of the Shahed is placed right next to the advertising slogan innovative solutions for aircraft engines.
Despite this, a company representative told journalists that the engines are intended exclusively for civilian drones and have not been supplied to Iran or Russia.
He also notes that the emails could have been generated using artificial intelligence.
How supply chain works
According to Chinese customs data, hundreds of containers carrying such goods are shipped to Russia and Iran. Among them are engines, fiber-optic cables, gyroscopes, and lithium-ion batteries.
Investigations have shown that a significant portion of the parts pass through distributors in mainland China and Hong Kong, from where they are shipped to the final recipients. Payment is typically made through shell companies, which are easily registered in Hong Kong and allow the real customers to remain hidden.
Millions in volume and complexity of monitoring
According to the WSJ and analytical groups, the value of these shipments amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Between 2023 and 2024 alone, Chinese companies directly supplied Russian firms subject to sanctions with parts and materials for drone production worth at least $63 million.
US officials say it is difficult to stop this trade because drones rely on common commercial parts that are easily moved through global supply chains.
Many Chinese suppliers are small firms largely immune to US sanctions and increasingly operating openly.
Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry states that the country adheres to export controls in accordance with its own laws and international obligations.
China assists Russia
Previously, the Western press has repeatedly reported that several Chinese companies supply Russia with dual-use products for military production.
According to The Economist, Beijing has become Russia’s main supplier and may have transferred lethal weapons.
According to Reuters, Chinese-made aircraft engines are likely being delivered to Russia via covert channels, and they are declared as industrial refrigeration systems to circumvent Western sanctions.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that China has significant influence over Vladimir Putin and is not interested in ending the war against Ukraine.
