Germany sends warning to China
During a meeting with her EU counterparts in Brussels, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued a warning to Beijing regarding potential sanctions. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has issued a warning to Beijing regarding potential sanctions during a meeting in Brussels that brought together top EU diplomats to address recent intelligence indicating that China may be providing military support to Russia amidst the Ukraine conflict.
Before the meeting on Monday, a senior EU official suggested that “reports from intelligence sources” indicated that there is “the existence of a factory inside China producing drones that are shipped to Russia.” The source, who remained unnamed, characterized these allegations as “convincing” and “credible,” although they acknowledged the absence of clear evidence pertaining to direct military collaboration between China and Russia.
Following the EU foreign ministers’ meeting, Baerbock informed reporters that the bloc would take action if such cooperation is validated. “We are introducing further sanctions against Iran and are also making this clear regarding Chinese drone aid, because this too must and will have consequences,” she stated, refraining from elaborating on the particulars.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed his concerns, warning Beijing against making a “big mistake” and underscoring the necessity of “sending a message to China to prevent escalation.”
In response to the accusations, China has labeled them as “baseless speculations and vilification,” asserting that it “handles the export of military products prudently and responsibly.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian remarked, “We have never provided lethal weapons to any party of the conflict, and strictly control the export of military and dual-use drones in accordance with laws and regulations.”
To counter Western allegations regarding the supply of goods that could be used for weapons production, China implemented a ban in July on the export of all civilian drones that could potentially serve military purposes. Lin Jian emphasized, “I would like to reaffirm that on the Ukraine crisis, China upholds an objective and just position and has actively promoted peace talks, which stands in sharp contrast with certain countries who apply double standards and keep adding fuel to the fire on the Ukraine crisis.”
Last month, the US enacted sanctions against two Chinese companies involved in the manufacture of drone engines and components, asserting that these firms were supplying products to Russia, thereby enabling it to carry out long-range aerial attacks on Ukraine. In September, the US announced new sanctions on Iran over its alleged provision of ballistic missiles and UAVs to Moscow, while also accusing North Korea of supplying artillery shells and recently sending troops to assist Russia.
The Ukrainian military largely relies on foreign aid, and the government depends on international funding to ensure operational continuity and employee wages. Since February 2022, the US has allocated $182.99 billion for Ukraine, with $86.7 billion already disbursed, according to Pentagon statistics. European nations, including the UK, have contributed approximately $127 billion to Ukraine during the same timeframe, based on data from Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Before the meeting on Monday, a senior EU official suggested that “reports from intelligence sources” indicated that there is “the existence of a factory inside China producing drones that are shipped to Russia.” The source, who remained unnamed, characterized these allegations as “convincing” and “credible,” although they acknowledged the absence of clear evidence pertaining to direct military collaboration between China and Russia.
Following the EU foreign ministers’ meeting, Baerbock informed reporters that the bloc would take action if such cooperation is validated. “We are introducing further sanctions against Iran and are also making this clear regarding Chinese drone aid, because this too must and will have consequences,” she stated, refraining from elaborating on the particulars.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also expressed his concerns, warning Beijing against making a “big mistake” and underscoring the necessity of “sending a message to China to prevent escalation.”
In response to the accusations, China has labeled them as “baseless speculations and vilification,” asserting that it “handles the export of military products prudently and responsibly.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian remarked, “We have never provided lethal weapons to any party of the conflict, and strictly control the export of military and dual-use drones in accordance with laws and regulations.”
To counter Western allegations regarding the supply of goods that could be used for weapons production, China implemented a ban in July on the export of all civilian drones that could potentially serve military purposes. Lin Jian emphasized, “I would like to reaffirm that on the Ukraine crisis, China upholds an objective and just position and has actively promoted peace talks, which stands in sharp contrast with certain countries who apply double standards and keep adding fuel to the fire on the Ukraine crisis.”
Last month, the US enacted sanctions against two Chinese companies involved in the manufacture of drone engines and components, asserting that these firms were supplying products to Russia, thereby enabling it to carry out long-range aerial attacks on Ukraine. In September, the US announced new sanctions on Iran over its alleged provision of ballistic missiles and UAVs to Moscow, while also accusing North Korea of supplying artillery shells and recently sending troops to assist Russia.
The Ukrainian military largely relies on foreign aid, and the government depends on international funding to ensure operational continuity and employee wages. Since February 2022, the US has allocated $182.99 billion for Ukraine, with $86.7 billion already disbursed, according to Pentagon statistics. European nations, including the UK, have contributed approximately $127 billion to Ukraine during the same timeframe, based on data from Germany’s Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
