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Chinese military officers have been present behind Russian lines with Beijing’s approval

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Here is the original Reuters report.

More than one hundred Chinese citizens fighting for the Russian military against Ukraine are mercenaries who do not appear to have a direct link to China's government, [according to reports].

But Chinese military officers have, with Beijing's approval, been touring close to Russia's frontlines to draw lessons and tactics from the war. The officers "are absolutely there under approval," [a former Western intelligence official] said.

China has for years provided Moscow with material support to help aid its war against Ukraine, primarily in the shipment of dual-use products – components needed to maintain weapons such as drones and tanks.

Beijing has also supplied Russia with lethal drones to use on the battlefield. In October, the Biden administration sanctioned for the first time two Chinese companies for providing the weapons systems to Moscow.

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3 comments
  • If a former Western intelligence official says this, I assume current western intelligence officials also have proof. If that's true, European governments must have known this before Ukraine went public on this. It is quite likely they went public to pressure Western governments into pressuring the Chinese governments. Good news is China and EU are talking, but I do hope they are actually trying to get China to take their people home because if this escalates it might get ugly fast.