Francis Tuschek
A series of leaked documents have uncovered evidence that Russia is actively assisting China in its military buildup targeting Taiwan, including the sale of advanced weaponry and specialized training for Chinese forces. The cache, comprising roughly 800 pages of contracts and correspondence, was obtained and verified by an independent think tank.
The documents indicate that Moscow’s support is focused on enhancing China’s airborne and maritime attack capabilities, specifically aimed at seizing vital strategic locations such as Taipei Port. Experts interpret this cooperation as a part of Russia’s broader geopolitical strategy to provoke a long-term conflict involving the United States and its allies, thereby escalating tensions across the Indo-Pacific region.
Oleksandr V. Danylyuk, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), examined the files and shared insights with RFE/RL on the significance of this collaboration. He suggested that Russia’s involvement might be motivated by a desire to strengthen China’s military posture, which could ultimately serve Moscow’s goal of destabilizing the region and increasing global instability.
According to the documents, Moscow agreed in 2023 to supply China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with a variety of military equipment, including assault vehicles, anti-tank weaponry, and airborne armored personnel carriers. These vehicles are reported to be customized to Chinese specifications, with Russia providing training for a battalion of Chinese special paratroopers to operate them.
This revelation raises concerns about the intensification of military ties between Moscow and Beijing amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, and signals possible future escalations in the Taiwan Strait.
