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China Denies Hosting Russian Troops for Secret Military Training Before Deployment to Ukraine
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China has denied a Reuters report alleging that Russian military personnel were secretly trained on Chinese territory before later taking part in the war against Ukraine, calling the claims an attempt to shift responsibility for the war onto Beijing and urging all sides to avoid escalating tensions.
In a response provided to Ukrinform on May 20, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing has consistently maintained what it described as an “objective and impartial” position regarding the war in Ukraine.
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“On the issue of the Ukrainian crisis (war in Ukraine), China has consistently adhered to an objective and impartial position and has worked to promote peace negotiations,” the statement said, using Beijing’s official terminology for Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The ministry added that China’s “consistent and clear” position has received recognition and support from the international community.
“Parties to the conflict should not deliberately fuel confrontation or shift blame onto others,” the spokesperson said.
The comments came in response to a Reuters report alleging that China had trained Russian servicemen who were later deployed in combat operations against Ukraine.
According to the report, the program was established under a bilateral military agreement signed in Beijing on July 2, 2025, by senior Russian and Chinese defense officials.
Under the arrangement, around 200 Russian servicemen were expected to receive training at military facilities in Beijing and Nanjing, while several hundred Chinese troops were reportedly to undergo training in Russia as part of a reciprocal exchange.
Reuters reported that the agreement contained strict secrecy clauses, including bans on media coverage in both countries and restrictions on sharing details of the program with outside parties.
Intelligence sources cited by the outlet said the Russian troops were trained in areas including drone operations, electronic warfare, army aviation, and mechanized infantry tactics.
According to Ukrinform, China has officially declared neutrality regarding the war while avoiding direct references to Russia as the aggressor or Ukraine as the victim. Beijing has also largely remained outside major international diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the fighting.
Chinese officials have repeatedly called for de-escalation, a ceasefire, and dialogue, though Moscow has continued to intensify military operations despite such statements from Beijing. At the same time, China has avoided publicly criticizing Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
The reported military cooperation emerged as Russia began large-scale nuclear force exercises on May 19, only hours before Russian leader Vladimir Putin departed for a two-day visit to China.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the three-day drills involve approximately 64,000 troops and 7,800 pieces of military equipment, with exercises scheduled to continue through May 21. The maneuvers include multiple branches of Russia’s armed forces and form part of broader strategic military readiness activities.
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