US imposes sanctions on two Chinese companies involved in making and shipping drones
US: On Thursday, October 17, the United States threatened to cut off collaboration between the two nations in support of the war effort in Ukraine and sanctioned two Chinese businesses and a Russian subsidiary that manufactured and shipped attack drones.
The US Treasury Department announced new penalties on Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Co., Ltd., a Chinese business that manufactures the engine used in Russia’s long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) called Garpiya.
Redlepus Vector Industry Shenzhen Co., Ltd., a Chinese firm, was also targeted by the sanctions due to its involvement in the export of drones and its ties to a Russian individual and business.
It is thought that the drones were employed in Ukraine on both military and civilian targets, causing vital infrastructure damage and killing both military personnel and civilians. The news that Chinese engines and components were being used to build the new Russian drones was originally reported by Reuters last month.
“While the United States previously imposed sanctions on [People’s Republic of China] entities providing critical inputs to Russia’s military-industrial base, these are the first US sanctions imposed on PRC entities directly developing and producing complete weapons systems in partnership with Russian firms,” said Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the State Department.
The Chinese corporations’ activities contradicted the Chinese government’s stated aims in private, according to a senior source in the Biden administration.
Liu Pengyu, the spokeswoman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, reiterated China’s opposition to sanctions and said that the country was appropriately managing the transfer of military hardware.
“The US makes false accusations against China’s normal trade with Russia, just as it continues to pour unprecedented military aid into Ukraine,” said a spokeswoman. “This is the typical double standard, and extremely hypocritical and irresponsible.”
Outside of business hours, it was unable to get in touch with the Chinese corporations or the Russian government for a response.
The actions are being taken as Washington’s attempt to sabotage Russia’s military effort in Ukraine, which continues as Moscow’s troops push eastward, has been stymied by growing collaboration between Russia and other nations, notably China.
US President Joe Biden will be discussing Ukraine’s military plan at his meetings with European allies in Germany. In an attempt to put a stop to Russia’s invasion, which has been going on for more than two and a half years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is promoting a “victory plan.”.
While chastising China’s authorities for backing Russia, Biden has attempted to defuse the country’s concerns.
Senior Biden administration sources said that Washington is keeping an eye out for any indications of deeper collaboration between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who are due to meet on the sidelines of the BRICS conference in Russia from October 22–24.
