British Defence Minister Grant Shapps accused China on Wednesday of either providing or preparing to provide Russia with lethal aid for its war against Ukraine.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Western nations have supplied Ukraine with billions of dollars in weapons and aid.
However, this marks the first time Britain has accused China of supplying Russia with arms for use in Ukraine.
At a conference in London, Shapps stated that U.S. and British defence intelligence had evidence indicating that “lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine.
“I think it is a significant development.”
He did not present specific evidence to back his claim but highlighted a 64% increase in trade between China and Russia since the conflict began, suggesting a mutual support system between the two nations.
“We should be concerned about that because in the earlier days of this war China would like to present itself as a moderating influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Shapps added.
The Chinese embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Shapps’ remarks.
Last month, senior U.S. officials claimed China was supporting Russia’s war effort by providing drone and missile technology, satellite imagery, and machine tools.
The Chinese embassy in the U.S. denied these allegations, stating Beijing had not supplied weaponry and asserting it is “not a producer of or party involved in the Ukraine crisis.”
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged a “new era” of partnership, expressing opposition to the United States on various security issues and sharing views on Taiwan and Ukraine.
Russia and China declared a “no limits” relationship just days before Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
However, Beijing had previously avoided providing actual weapons and ammunition for Russia’s war effort.
Shapps noted that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea had been emboldened by what he described as a quarter-century of “western timidity” towards repression and aggression.
He urged NATO members to “wake up” and recommended that all NATO countries spend 2.5% of their gross domestic product on defence.