The European Union (EU) is planning to add another 25 Chinese companies to its blacklist for violating sanctions on Russia. This move is part of the EU’s ongoing efforts to limit Russia’s ability to continue its war in Ukraine, which began nearly three years ago. The new blacklist will include both companies from mainland China and Hong Kong. These companies are accused of helping Russia get access to goods that are banned from entering the country due to the war.
China’s Role in Circumventing Sanctions
The 25 companies being added to the blacklist are accused of smuggling European-made goods to Russian military groups, which are not allowed to buy or receive these items. These goods include high-tech products that could help Russia in its military operations. This is part of the EU’s 16th set of sanctions against Russia since the war began, aimed at blocking Russia’s access to essential supplies that support its war effort.
In addition to blacklisting these companies, one individual from China will also face sanctions. This person will be banned from entering the 27 EU countries and any of their assets will be frozen. However, the European Union does not believe that these new sanctions are related to a recent report about a drone factory in China’s Xinjiang region. The factory was allegedly producing drones for Russia’s military, but the EU has not confirmed any direct link to these companies being blacklisted.
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EU’s Ongoing Efforts to Stop Military Trade with Russia
Since the start of the war in February 2022, the EU has been working to stop goods and technology from reaching Russia’s military. Despite the EU’s efforts, there are still reports of many Chinese companies helping Russia to bypass the sanctions. According to the European Union, a large portion of the sensitive products that reach Russian military groups come from China. It is estimated that about 70% of these high-tech goods, like electronics and machinery, are shipped through China to Russia.
In December 2024, the EU took a stronger step by sanctioning six Chinese companies and one individual for the first time. This was a significant move, as sanctions against China had been rare up until then. However, it appears that these measures have not been enough to stop the flow of goods. The EU says that China continues to be the “worst offender” in terms of breaking sanctions and continues to supply Russia with critical items.
Despite these accusations, China has strongly denied breaking any laws. The Chinese government claims that it has not provided any weapons to Russia and that it controls the export of military items strictly by law. They have also criticized the EU’s actions, calling the sanctions unfair and unjustified. China believes that the EU’s sanctions are based on politics, rather than facts, and that they are not in line with international law.
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The Impact of the EU’s Sanctions
The EU’s sanctions on Chinese companies have caused tension between the European Union and China. While the EU insists that these actions are necessary to stop Russia’s military, China sees them as unfair. In recent months, China has attempted to show that it is neutral in the war, despite being accused of helping Russia indirectly. The EU’s decision to blacklist more Chinese companies is likely to add to these tensions.
The issue of sanctions has become a diplomatic challenge for Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged European leaders to be careful in their criticism of China. Ukraine has been working hard to ensure that China does not become a barrier to any potential peace talks in the future. They also do not want to push away countries from the Global South, where China is seen as an important player.
Despite the ongoing efforts to stop the trade of dual-use goods to Russia, it remains a difficult issue for the European Union. Many of the companies involved in circumventing sanctions are hard to track, and the trade continues despite the sanctions. As the situation evolves, the EU is likely to keep increasing pressure on China, but it’s unclear whether this will have the desired effect in slowing down the flow of critical supplies to Russia’s military.
