From Arms Supplier to Arms Seeker: How Russia's Losses in Ukraine Shift the Dynamics with China

Russia has been a long-time supplier of arms to China, but the situation has now reversed. Russia has suffered significant losses in equipment, including tanks, during its invasion of Ukraine and is now facing ammunition shortages. The United States has intelligence suggesting that China is considering supplying weapons to Russia, which could have a major impact on the war and strain China's relationship with America and Europe.

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Despite repeated requests from Russia, China has only provided non-lethal aid and dual-use items. It has not been publicly disclosed what China is considering, but there are reports that Russia is negotiating with a Chinese firm to purchase attack drones. These drones have been used by Russia in both frontline operations and strikes on Ukraine's power grid.

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However, China's defense industry has a track record of exporting malfunctioning and defective military equipment. Nigeria, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have all experienced technical problems with Chinese-made military equipment, leading to security concerns and draining military budgets. China's cut-rate pricing and financing may attract customers, but the hidden costs of malfunctioning gear and a lack of technological compatibility can be expensive and difficult to resolve.