China has done a lot to appear impartial whenever Russia's invasion of Ukraine comes up. Maybe "impartial" is the wrong word: the People's Republic of China has even talked up the idea of finding a peaceful outcome to the war. But it looks like all that has been a very successful attempt to blow smoke up Europe's ass. According to Reuters, the communist nation has been training soldiers from Vladimir Putin's kleptocratic nation to wage war against the defenders of Ukraine's fledgling democracy.
China's armed forces secretly trained about 200 Russian military personnel in China late last year and some have since returned to fight in Ukraine, according to three European intelligence agencies and documents seen by Reuters.
Beijing has repeatedly stated that it is neutral in the conflict and presents itself as a peace mediator, while quietly hosting joint military exercises with Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.
This isn't the first time Russia has looked to Asia for help with its delightfully resilient neighbor to the west. Last year, Russia received both aid and soldiers from typically isolationist North Korea: Russia needed bodies, and North Korea needed weapons. China's involvement feels different. Supplying Russia with expertise in drone warfare and modernization could tip the balance in Russia's favor. That a nation with China's tech and personnel, but no combat experience in decades, is now training an active war machine feels a little creepy.
This week, the US suspended its 86-year partnership with Canada in a joint defense advisory body, even though Canada has met its NATO financial commitments for the first time since the late 1980s. The Trump administration is also drawing down 5,000 troops from European postings and making fewer soldiers available to NATO to use in response to an attack or other crises. The world's strongest military power is pulling back from its allies. China is gaining combat experience. Russia is gaining the technical help it needs to modernize. Both have indicated they are hellbent on expansion.
Things are bound to become even more uncomfortable for the world than they already are.
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