US Government "Analyzing Acquisition Channels of Chinese Ammunition"
US-China Conflict Expected if Confirmed to be Provided by China
Japanese media reported that it has been confirmed that Russia used Chinese-made ammunition in the Ukraine war.
Kyodo News reported on the 19th that "the U.S. government analyzed the materials of ammunition used on the battlefield and notified relevant countries with classified information." The U.S. government is known to have identified China as the country of manufacture of the ammunition, but the type of ammunition has not been disclosed.
Kyodo stated, "As fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine, it appears that Russian forces and the Russian private military company Wagner Group supplemented their ammunition shortages with Chinese-made products."
Currently, the U.S. government is analyzing the route through which Russia obtained Chinese-made ammunition. It has not yet been confirmed whether China directly supplied ammunition to Russia or if it was used via a third country using Chinese products. There is also speculation that it may have passed through Belarus, which is strengthening its ties with China.
If it is revealed that China provided the ammunition, tensions between the U.S. and China are expected to escalate. The Chinese government has so far claimed neutrality in the Ukraine situation and denied providing weapons.
The U.S. government is paying close attention to whether Chinese President Xi Jinping will agree to provide weapons during his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin when he visits Russia on the 20th.
U.S. President Joe Biden recently said, "I do not believe China has made plans to provide weapons to Russia," but also warned, "If China ignores the warnings, we will respond."
The British magazine The Economist reported on the 2nd (local time) in an article titled "China’s weapons could revive Russia’s failing war," stating, "If China supports Russia with weapons, the course of the war could change."
Currently, Russia has few options for receiving weapon support, and China, the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter, is the only country Russia can expect help from. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, seven of the world’s top 20 defense companies are Chinese.
However, China has shown a cautious stance as it has faced criticism from Western countries for appearing to side with Russia. Supporting Russia would cause China to lose its status as a neutral mediator, worsen relations with the U.S., and provoke opposition from Europe.
Meanwhile, the Russian private military company Wagner Group, fighting on the front lines of the Ukraine war, has criticized the Russian Ministry of Defense and military, saying, "The unit is not being sufficiently supplied with ammunition."
Kyodo reported, "The Wagner Group is known to procure weapons from North Korea and is attempting to retrieve ammunition sent to African countries where its units are deployed in order to use it in Ukraine."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
