Russia exposed helping China prepare for invasion of Taiwan | World | News
Russia is selling military equipment and technology to China that could help Beijing prepare for an airborne invasion of Taiwan, A London think tank analysis of leaked Russian documents has warned. The authors from the Royal United Services Institute in London obtained around 800 pages of documents, including contracts and lists of equipment to be supplied by Moscow to Beijing, from the Black Moon hacktivist group.
The group, which previously published some of the documents online, does not identify its members but describes itself in a manifesto as opposed to governments that carry out aggressive foreign policy. The authors of the RUSI report shared some of the documents with The Associated Press and said they appear to be genuine, although parts of the documents may have been omitted or altered. AP is unable to independently verify their authenticity. The mix of completed and apparent draft Russian documents references meetings between Chinese and Russian delegations – including visits to Moscow – and payment and delivery timelines for high-altitude parachute systems and amphibious assault vehicles.
They suggest that Russia has begun work on the products to be delivered, but do not contain direct evidence from the Chinese side that Beijing has paid any money or received any equipment.
While the authors argue the equipment could be used to invade Taiwan, China has embarked upon a broad modernisation program of its armed forces with the goal of transforming it into a “world-class” military by 2050.
High-ranking US officials have suggested Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered his military to be prepared for a possible invasion of Taiwan as early as 2027. Beijing claims the self-governing democracy is rightfully a part of China and has not ruled out seizing the island by force.
While the documents do not mention Taiwan directly, the RUSI analysis suggests the deal would help China gain advanced parachuting capabilities that it would need to mount an invasion, potentially speeding up a timeline.
While it is not certain that China has decided to invade Taiwan, access to Russian equipment and localised training in China means Beijing will be better equipped for a potential invasion, said Oleksandr Danylyuk.
“The Chinese school of airborne landing is very young,” he said, suggesting Moscow’s assistance could help speed up China’s airborne program by about 10 to 15 years.
Russia agreed to sell China systems which are designed for parachuting up to 190kg (419 pounds) from an extremely high altitude, the RUSI analysis said. The documents reference the minutes of a Moscow meeting from March 8, 2024, where Russia agreed to provide China by the end of 2024 with details of how the system, known as Dalnolyot, performed under colder temperature conditions from -40C to -60C. According to the documents, Beijing requested testing the parachute systems for drops from 26,250 feet – a height that would allow Chinese forces to glide for up to 50 miles, allowing “Chinese special forces groups to penetrate the territory of other countries without being noticed,” the RUSI report said.
Mr Danylyuk suggested the Dalnolyot system could be used for a “stage zero” landing in Taiwan, in which Beijing secretly sends in equipment and special forces from aircraft outside Taiwanese airspace.
The analysts also said Russia’s aim is to develop as a military supplier to China and fund its war in Ukraine. But Mr Danylyuk also suggested that Moscow may want to draw Beijing into a conflict with Washington over Taiwan, distracting the US from Russia’s war with Ukraine.
