US Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Firms Supporting Russia’s Drone Operations

 

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has enacted sanctions against several Chinese manufacturers of drone engines and parts, citing their direct assistance to Russia in its ongoing military actions in Ukraine. Announced on Thursday, the sanctions specifically target three entities and one individual involved in the creation of Russia's "Garpiya series" long-range attack drones.

According to the Treasury Department, these drones have been utilized by Russia in its aggressive campaign against Ukraine, resulting in significant destruction of infrastructure and numerous casualties. The statement emphasized that the Garpiya drones are designed by experts in China and produced in factories within the country, in collaboration with Russian defense companies, before being transferred to Russia for operational use.

Recently, Russia has intensified its long-range drone assaults, successfully breaching Ukraine's air defenses. A devastating missile strike in the city of Poltava claimed the lives of 55 individuals and injured 328 more. In response to these escalating attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the U.S. to permit Ukrainian forces to deploy long-range weapons to target sites deep within Russian territory.

The Biden administration has previously accused China of providing material support to Russia, and these new sanctions are part of an effort to address "direct activity" between Beijing and Moscow, according to unnamed senior administration officials cited by The Associated Press. These measures mark the first time the U.S. has sanctioned Chinese entities involved in the direct development and production of complete weapons systems in partnership with Russian firms.

Bradley T. Smith, acting undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, stated, "Russia increasingly relies on the expertise of foreign professionals and the import of sophisticated technologies to sustain its weapons program and advance its military campaign against Ukraine." He added that the U.S. will continue to disrupt networks that facilitate Russia's access to advanced weaponry.

Despite China's growing partnership with Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Chinese officials have consistently denied supplying weapons to Moscow. They have characterized their trade with Russia as legitimate and normal.

The U.S. has implemented a series of sanctions against individuals and entities accused of supporting Russia’s war effort, sanctioning over 300 individuals and firms from various countries, including China, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, this year alone. White House national security spokesman John Kirby reiterated the U.S. commitment to addressing China’s "nonmarket policies" that have harmful global repercussions.

In a related development, China has also imposed its own sanctions on U.S. defense firms over military equipment sales to Taiwan. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian has condemned these sales as violations of China's sovereignty and a detriment to China-U.S. relations.