Pilots operate a JL-10 advance trainer jet of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China September 28, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is likely to threaten one of China’s most secretive, but important relationships in recent years. China has purchased technology for its growing military from Ukraine.
Ukraine and China’s relationship has come under increased pressure from the United States. Military experts and diplomats say the current war could end a trade agreement that has helped China modernize its military over the last 20 years.
Ukrainian anger over China’s growing ties with Russia and uncertainty over its post-war economy and government could threaten the relationship, experts say.
"It's always been a good hunting ground for Chinese military technicians,” said Chinese military expert Vasily Kashin of HSE University in Moscow. “There is a lot there, and it has been in some cases easier to get than getting it from Russia.”
He added that the “relationship as it was will be completely destroyed” over China's diplomatic support for Russia.
China purchased from Ukraine one of the Soviet Union’s last aircraft carriers and parts of a fighter jet. China has also bought airplane engines, destroyers and tanks from Ukraine, says the independent Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI.
Asia-based military experts say Ukraine has long been suspected of selling some command-and-control systems and other technology used in missiles. Ukrainian technicians have also worked privately inside China.
This work is expected to continue even if the official relationship worsens or becomes difficult, the experts said. "One traditional advantage for China in Ukraine is generally the security situation is more fluid than Russia, so it is possible to do things unofficially," one expert told Reuters.
SIPRI estimates that China has spent at least between $70 million to $80 million a year on military technology from Ukraine.
For military technology, Russia remains China's most important seller. But Ukraine has provided some items that Russia can be slow or unwilling to give.
SIPRI data shows a much larger Russia-China trade. Russia has provided China with more advanced engines for its airplanes, radars and surface-to-air, anti-ship and anti-tank missiles.
But a suspicious Russia has not always provided its latest technology to its large neighbor, experts say. For example, Chinese competitor Vietnam was able to get far more advanced submarines from Russia over the last decade.
The technology China's military technicians and engineers have purchased has helped grow China’s own design and production abilities. That could mean China no longer needs Ukrainian technology.
"China was very dependent on Ukrainian technology in the 1990s and early 2000s, but that has diminished more and more," said Siemon Wezeman. He is a researcher with SIPRI.
"There still may be some technology the Chinese are after, particularly aerospace and missile related,” Wezeman said.
If the United States is involved in post-war Ukraine, that could also make trading more difficult.
Already, pressure from the U.S. has had an impact. The Ukrainian government confirmed last year that it would halt the takeover of a local airplane engine maker by a Chinese company because of American concerns.
Words in This Story
advantage – adj. something that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others
fluid – adj. used to describe something that can change easily or that changes often
radar— n. a device that sends out radio waves for finding out the position and speed of a moving object
advanced — adj. beyond the basic level
submarine — n. a ship that can operate underwater
dependent — adj. decided or controlled by something else
diminish — v. to become or to cause to become less in size, importance, etc.
中国とウクライナの戦略的パートナーシップ関係
www.jetro.go.jp
両国は1992年に国交を樹立。2001年には全面的な友好協力関係の樹立を、2011年には戦略的パートナーシップ関係の樹立を宣言するなど、協力関係を深化させてきた。
国交樹立30周年の節目に当たる2022年1月には、習近平国家主席およびゼレンスキー大統領が祝電を交換。
習国家主席は「国交樹立後の30年間、両国関係は一貫して健全かつ安定的な発展を保持してきた。政治的な相互信頼が深まっているほか、各分野の協力は実り多い成果を上げている。新型コロナウイルス感染症発生後も両国は連携して対応に当たってきた」と、30年を振り返った。
貿易は急拡大、ウクライナの風力発電プロジェクトが稼働
両国間の貿易を中国側統計でみると、2021年の中国の対ウクライナ輸出額は前年比36.8%増の94億1,063万ドル、輸入額は25.2%増の97億5,972万ドルといずれも20%を超える伸びを示し、輸出、輸入ともに過去最高となった。2017年から2021年にかけての5年間では、輸出は1.9倍、輸入は4.2倍と大きく増加している。ウクライナ側の統計では、2020年において、輸出入とも中国が最大の相手国となっている。
両国は2021年6月、インフラ建設分野での協力の深化に関する協定を締結。両国企業・金融機関による道路、橋、鉄道などの分野での積極的な協力を推進することで合意した。
2020年における中国のウクライナへの直接投資額(フロー)は2,106万ドルとなっている。中国の範先栄・駐ウクライナ大使は「(国家能源集団傘下の風力発電企業の)龍源電力によるユージヌィ風力発電プロジェクトは2021年に完成し稼働を開始した。(ムィコラーイウ州に)建設中の風力発電所(2022年末稼働予定)は、中国企業のウクライナにおける最大規模の投資プロジェクトだ」としている(新華社2022年1月14日)。