Britain has evidence China IS supplying Russia with lethal aid for use in Ukraine and it is clear the nations are 'covering each other's backs', defence minister Grant Shapps says
- Shapps: 'Lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia into Ukraine'
- China has thus far refuted Western claims it is providing lethal aid to Russia
British defence minister Grant Shapps today accused China of providing or preparing to provide Russia with lethal aid for use by Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
Shapps told a conference in London that US and British defence intelligence had evidence to suggest that 'lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine'.
'We should be concerned about that because in the earlier days of this war China would like to present itself as a moderating influence on Russia', he said, adding that there had been a 64% increase in trade between the countries since the start of the Ukraine war and 'they are covering each other's back'.
Superficially, China presents itself as a neutral observer of the conflict.
The Chinese Embassy in the US refuted claims last month it had not provided weaponry to boost Vladimir Putin's war effort, adding that it is 'not a producer of or party involved in the Ukraine crisis.'
But while it may have stopped short of directly providing weapons to its ally, Western officials say Beijing has delivered drone and missile technologies, a range of components that are used in the manufacture of military equipment, and shared satellite images to Moscow.
![A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry Press-Service shows Russian troops firing a Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) at an undisclosed position in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/15/85195351-13446809-A_still_image_taken_from_a_handout_video_made_available_by_the_R-a-65_1716389492025.jpg)
A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry Press-Service shows Russian troops firing a Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) at an undisclosed position in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine
![120 mm mortar crew fires shells at Russian positions as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine on April 27, 2024](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/12/84901191-13446809-120_mm_mortar_crew_fires_shells_at_Russian_positions_as_the_war_-a-7_1716376344664.jpg)
120 mm mortar crew fires shells at Russian positions as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine on April 27, 2024
![Defence Secretary Grant Shapps speaking at the London Defence Conference at King's College London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/12/85195095-13446809-image-a-9_1716376602771.jpg)
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps speaking at the London Defence Conference at King's College London
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President Xi is not known for effusive displays of warmth, but he pulled Putin in for a pair of firm, if awkward, hugs
![President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin put on a show of unity in Beijing yesterday, there seemed scant chance of No 10's request being passed on. The pair greeted each other warmly to discuss plans to boost their anti-West alliance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/12/84983683-13446809-President_Xi_Jinping_and_President_Vladimir_Putin_put_on_a_show_-a-4_1716376331443.jpg)
President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin put on a show of unity in Beijing yesterday, there seemed scant chance of No 10's request being passed on. The pair greeted each other warmly to discuss plans to boost their anti-West alliance
Speaking on the need to boost Britain's defence capabilities, Shapps added Russia, China, Iran and North Korea had been emboldened by what he called a quarter of a century of 'western timidity' towards repression at home and aggression abroad.
He said it was time for the 'world to wake up' and that meant all NATO members should start spending 2.5% of their gross domestic product on defence - a figure that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged Britain would achieve by the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, Dr Jade McGlynn, of the Department of War Studies at King's College London, said that a resounding Ukrainian defeat to the Russian attackers would result in disastrous consequences, not only for Ukrainians, but British citizens.
'I think we need to be much more concrete about what is at stake… If Russia were to have some form of victory in Ukraine, the costs to British people would be enormous.
'We are talking around, over 40% increase in energy prices, we are talking about the poorest 10% of households spending 25% of their entire income on energy.
'We are talking about food price inflation of between about 30 to 50%, and we are of course talking about massively increased defence spending.'
The comments come days after Rishi Sunak called on China to use the influence it claims to have over Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said last week: 'We would urge China to encourage Russia to cease the illegal war against Ukraine.
'China has previously spoken out about the importance of protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine - something we have engaged China in at all levels.'
But Sunak's pleas are unlikely to make any headway, with Putin having completed a diplomatic visit to Beijing last week where he enjoyed warm embraces with his Chinese counterpart.
The visit was Putin's first trip abroad since his March re-election and the second in just over six months to China.
Analysts said the trip underscored the importance of the relationship for Russia's war effort and showcased the intentions of Putin and Xi to forge a path towards a new multipolar international order where Western influence over the economy and multilateral institutions is greatly reduced.
![Rishi Sunak has called on China to use its influence over Russia to end the war in Ukraine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/15/84983767-13446809-Rishi_Sunak_has_called_on_China_to_use_its_influence_over_Russia-a-66_1716389492035.jpg)
Rishi Sunak has called on China to use its influence over Russia to end the war in Ukraine
![Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin embrace each other after an informal meeting in Beijing, China, on Thursday, May 16, 2024](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/12/84999147-13446809-Chinese_President_Xi_Jinping_left_and_Russian_President_Vladimir-a-2_1716376324302.jpg)
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin embrace each other after an informal meeting in Beijing, China, on Thursday, May 16, 2024
![Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin review the honour guard during an official welcome ceremony in Beijing, China, Thursday, May 16, 2024](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/12/84944461-13446809-Chinese_President_Xi_Jinping_left_and_Russian_President_Vladimir-a-1_1716376320609.jpg)
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin review the honour guard during an official welcome ceremony in Beijing, China, Thursday, May 16, 2024
![Ukrainian servicemen who recently returned from the trenches of Bakhmut walk on a street in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/22/12/84901249-13446809-Ukrainian_servicemen_who_recently_returned_from_the_trenches_of_-a-8_1716376408003.jpg)
Ukrainian servicemen who recently returned from the trenches of Bakhmut walk on a street in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine
'The China-Russia relationship is hard earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it,' Xi said following his meeting with Putin.
The embraces shared by the two leaders still stopped well short of the full 'socialist fraternal kiss' favoured by the likes of Soviet Union's Leonid Brezhnev at the height of the Cold War.
But Putin hailed the 'warm and comradely' talks - the latest step in the consolidation of a relationship they frame as a buttress against what they see as a meddling West.
He described Moscow and Beijing's cooperation in world affairs as one of the main stabilising factors in the international arena.
Yet their emphasis on the partnership, most analysts and commentators agree that amid his continuing war, it is Putin who needs this relationship more than Xi.
China has proved an economic lifeline for Russia after The West slapped Moscow with unprecedented sanctions over Ukraine, and Putin has spoken very highly of his Chinese counterpart while waxing lyrical over his admiration for Chinese culture - even commenting that members of his family are learning Mandarin.