Recent records have shown that Chinese companies have sold weapon components used by the Russian military to the sanctioned Belarusian defense contractor BelOMO. This is despite the Chinese government’s continuous denial of providing military assistance to Russia. Western countries believe that China supplies weapons parts to the Russian military through the export of high-tech components.
According to a report by Nikkei Asia on Wednesday, Belarusian opposition organization BelPol obtained trade contracts, payment records, and other information between Belarusian and Chinese companies from various industry sources.
BelOMO, a Belarusian defense contractor, continued to receive precision components used in Russian weapons from Chinese companies even after facing sanctions from Europe and the United States in 2022.
The records reveal that on December 1 last year, the Shenzhen-based company Green Cycle Energy received an order for three thousand LAD-21T laser module components from BelOMO for targeting laser-guided bombs and missiles used by the Russian military, with payment made in Chinese Yuan. The Russian state-owned VTB Bank was involved in the transaction through its branch in Shanghai.
On December 5, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on BelOMO for supplying weapons to the Russian military. However, on February 16 this year, Green Cycle Energy signed a contract worth 5.56 million Yuan (764,000 USD) with BelOMO to sell these components.
Another Chinese component manufacturer, Morotack Technology, provided 200 parts called “flanges” to BelOMO’s Diaproektor factory on February 1, totaling 114,000 Yuan. Banks from both Belarus and China were involved in this transaction.
These components are considered crucial parts of advanced guidance systems. In a letter dated May 2, BelOMO requested Morotack to send 100 related parts every month.
Moreover, on February 2, Precision Laser Systems, based in St. Petersburg, supplied laser-related components to Diaproektor, including laser diodes produced by Haucore from Jinan, Shandong. A total of 78 units were sold for 499,200 USD. Precision Laser Systems shipped similar-sized goods to Diaproektor on February 20 and March 20.
Meanwhile, Diaproektor sold components to the Belarusian defense contractor Peleng, which supplies multi-channel thermal imaging aiming devices for tank gunners to the Russian military. Peleng is also a company under sanctions by the US and UK.
On July 10, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of being a “major contributor to the Russian defense industrial base.”
In June, the Group of Seven (G7) summit joint communique stated that they will “continue to take measures against China (the CCP) and actors in third countries who provide substantial support to Russia’s war machine.”