German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sharply criticized China on Monday for its alleged role in supplying Russia with drones used in the war in Ukraine, escalating tensions as the European Union prepares to impose sanctions on Chinese companies, Bloomberg reports.
During a visit to Beijing, Baerbock claimed that Chinese-made drones and the involvement of North Korean troops in the conflict directly threaten Europe’s security.
Baerbock didn’t publicly present evidence to support her claim during the press briefing. A German official told the news outlet that up to 60% of Russian weaponry contains Chinese components, with nearly 20% of Russian combat drones utilizing Chinese assistance without specifying the sources of this information. The EU is poised to sanction several Chinese firms implicated in assisting the development of these drones, with sanctions expected within the next few weeks.
China’s Foreign Ministry previously denied supplying weapons to Russia, asserting strict control over dual-use items, including drone exports.
Baerbock’s comments follow her November statement that China’s growing support for Moscow “will and must have consequences.”
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kyiv, announcing an additional €650 million ($683 million) in military aid for Ukraine, scheduled for delivery in December.
The escalating tensions between Europe and China extend beyond the Ukraine war. A dispute over vehicle imports has already led the EU to impose higher tariffs on Chinese automobiles, citing unfair state subsidies for electric vehicles. While the German government, under Chancellor Scholz, opposed these tariffs fearing retaliatory measures, Baerbock, from the Greens party, advocates a firmer stance, asserting that Germany “will not tolerate others violating the international rules of the game to the detriment of German and European industry.”