The authorities have told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper that Chinese nationals have been caught smuggling Russian military gear out of the country before reselling knockoffs back to Russia.
The items included bulletproof vests and uniforms that had been reversed-engineered and reproduced with inferior material, customs officials said.
The West has accused China of keeping Russia’s sanctions-hit economy afloat since President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with bilateral trade reaching record highs thanks to a spike in oil and gas deals. The United States and European Union also alleged that China is supplying dual civilian-military use goods that support Russia’s wartime industries.
While China has in recent decades surpassed its northern neighbor in military might, it had long studied Russian military systems—from missiles and jets to air defenses platforms—to modernize the People’s Liberation Army.
Cross-border shipments of dual-use goods soared following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, prompting Moscow to place a ban on the export of products with military applications, according to Izvestia. The restriction carries criminal charges of up to seven years in prison.
Earlier this month, a 25-year-old Chinese man was arrested in Moscow after law enforcement seized two tactical vests he had attempted to send home by mail, the paper said. Another student was detained in December after being found with body armor, armored plates, bullet casings and other equipment in his university dormitory. The man claimed he had purchased the gear through online ads.
Ruslan Shapiev, head of Russian defense contractor RUSARM, attributed the spike in illegal exports to growing demand for counterfeit goods and pricing disparities between countries, according to Izvestia.
The market for military goods is saturated due to international trade and postal loopholes, Shapiev said. Cheaper Chinese knockoff equipment and uniforms have also been found in the possession of Ukrainian troops, he said, suggesting the items were flowing to both sides of the conflict.
Ruslan Shapiev, general director of RUSARM, told Izvestia: “There’s nothing wrong with [China’s] helmets, but their body armor is questionable. The design and ergonomics leave much to be desired. Russian gear is more expensive but better, and people will always choose quality.”
“China views Russia as a country with deep military experience. They watch everything—our gear, our processes. Russian uniforms on the market today can rival or exceed foreign models.”
Guo Jiakun, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters: “China welcomes all efforts towards a ceasefire, which is a necessary step towards peace. It is hoped that the parties concerned will continue to resolve the crisis through dialogue and negotiation.”
Despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to end the war in Ukraine within his first 100 days in office, negotiations have stalled, with Putin rejecting a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire.
Following talks in Paris with Ukrainian and European officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the administration may have to “move on” if no breakthrough is reached.
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