China trained 200 Russian troops in drone warfare
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- China covertly trained roughly 200 Russian soldiers at facilities in Beijing and Nanjing late last year, focusing on drone warfare, according to European intelligence agencies and Reuters documents.
- Agreement signed by senior Russian and Chinese officers on July 2 2025 pledged that hundreds of Chinese troops would also receive training in Russia, expanding reciprocal military cooperation.
- European intelligence officials warned that this operational‑level training of Russian forces, who have since returned to fight in Ukraine, signals a far more direct Chinese involvement in the war than previously acknowledged.
- Xi Jinping is set to host President Vladimir Putin for a two‑day visit, underscoring the “all‑weather” partnership as the West urges Beijing to pressure Moscow to end the conflict.
- China’s foreign ministry reiterated its “objective and impartial” stance on Ukraine, claiming it promotes peace talks despite the covert training revelations.
Why it matters: Russia gains enhanced drone capabilities for its Ukrainian forces, while China’s covert role erodes its claimed neutrality, giving the West a stronger justification to pressure Beijing over the war.
