China's Role in Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Arms and Diplomacy.

Chinese companies, including a state-owned defense contractor, have shipped 1,000 assault rifles, drone parts, and body armor to Russian entities between June and December 2022, according to trade and customs data obtained by POLITICO. Although the customs data does not show that Beijing is selling a large amount of weapons to Moscow specifically to aid its war effort, it reveals that China is supplying Russian companies with previously unreported “dual-use” equipment. This is the first confirmation that China is sending rifles and body armor to Russian companies, and shows that drones and drone parts are still being sent despite promises from at least one company that said it would suspend business in Russia and Ukraine to ensure its products did not aid the war effort.