Source: European Parliament
China is a key enabler of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. China’s support comes with a cost. It negatively affects EU-China relations.
China is the largest provider of dual-use goods and sensitive items that sustain Russia’s military industrial base and that are found on the battlefield in Ukraine. These goods are used in multiple types of military equipment.
Without China’s support, Russia would not be able to continue its military aggression with the same force.
Since the start of the EU’s sanctions against Russia, the EU has placed 33 entities based in mainland China or Hong Kong on a list of specific export restrictions[1] because these entities have been found to export to Russia sanctioned dual-use and advanced tech components, including of EU origin, which are used by the Russian army to wage war against Ukraine.
For the first time since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with the 15th package of sanctions, the EU also imposed fully-fledged sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, prohibition to make funds and economic resources available) on six Chinese companies and one Chinese individual supplying drone components and microelectronic components in support of Russia’s war effort.
The EU will continue to take appropriate measures to avoid sanctions circumvention and stem the supply of components, including of EU origin, used by the Russian army on the battlefield, including by coordinating with like-minded partners.
- [1] Annex IV to Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014.