A Chinese social media post mentioned on Russian state television has sparked interest in the use of Chinese technology in the Kremlin’s tanks.
A Weibo post by user Xu Zhou Zhi Ting on Jan. 4 raised concerns about the military implications of the tech industry between China and Russia.
The publication reported that a Russian TV show featured a tank production line, which inadvertently revealed that the Wuhan Gaoxin technology was one of critical circuit boards.
This progression calls into question the effectiveness of foreign sanctions aimed at restricting Russia’s access to generation used in the ongoing war with Ukraine, which began with the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. Revelations about technology gained through Russia may have significant implications for effectiveness. Foreign controls and broader geopolitical dynamics.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Wuhan Gaoxin Technology’s sensor technology is being used in Russia’s T-90M tank.
Wuhan Gaoxin Technology, its parent company, which has been facing U. S. sanctions since 2008, participated in the ISC West exhibition at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas in 2023. The company’s participation in foreign events indicates its preference for maintaining a global presence in the infrared detector market.
Global Sensor Technology, described as a leading provider of both uncooled and cooled thermal imaging detectors, is another facet of Wuhan Gaoxin’s operations. The company claims to serve customers worldwide and has established a Russian-dedicated website, which suggests a direct link to Russian military activities.
At the same time, Russia’s dependence on China for drone generation has also increased, as the balance of the Russia-Ukraine war hinges on the drone war. The generation of sensors is for the manufacture of drones.
On January 2, the Financial Times (FT) highlighted a significant increase in Chinese exports of numerical PC (CNC) equipment to Russia, which are imperative for milling high-precision metals in military manufacturing.
According to the report, shipments have increased tenfold since the Russian invasion. The increase in shipments of CNC equipment from $6. 5 million to $68 million demonstrates the strengthening of the military-industrial sector between China and Russia.
Michael Raska, an assistant professor at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told FT about the deepening ties between the two nations, which share a political interest in challenging U.S. influence. With Russia cut off from importing European machinery because of sanctions, it has turned to China as a crucial supplier.
EU restrictions have drastically reduced Russian imports of CNC equipment, which was once a main source for Moscow. Analysts recommend that Russia obtain equipment from countries that are not affected by foreign controls.
Newsweek reached out to Wuhan Gaoxin Technology for comment.
A Swiss report on Nov. 15 expressed considerations about the ability of Russian drone brands to circumvent foreign sanctions. Through Swissinfo, a department of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, it found that Russian brands were still unloading critical parts for unmanned aerial vehicles from the West or from countries aligned with the West, including Switzerland, the United States and Taiwan.
Aadil Brar is a Newsweek reporter based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers foreign security, US-China relations, and security in East Asia. In the past, Aadil has reported for the BBC World Service. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and SOAS at the University of London. Send Aadil’s suggestions or advice to a. brar@newsweek. com.