Reports that Russian transport aircraft has visited China multiple times in recent days has sparked rumors that China is airlifting supplies to Russia, amid President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine.
Defense Express, a Ukrainian military news outlet, reported on November 27 that flight-tracking services show Russian Antonov An-124 transport aircraft visited China nine times in seven days.
The news outlet posted a video on its Telegram channel reportedly taken at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Henan province, China.
Defense Express said the clip shows Russian company Volga-Dnepr's An-124 aircraft landing at the airport, and that commenters claim the aircraft was carrying military equipment, bulletproof vests, helmets and military clothing.
The city of Zhengzhou is a key transportation and logistics hub between China and Europe.
According to Defense Express, flight-tracking services show nine An-124 "Ruslan" flights to China and only three in the return direction over the past seven days, "which directly indicates that the transponder was turned off during some of the flights."
The news outlet said aircraft with the numbers RA-82074, RA-82044 and RA-82081 are involved in "transportation," and suggested that Russia is sending the aircraft to carry military cargo.
In March, just weeks after the war began, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang said that China hadn't considered supplying Russia with military equipment.
"There's a disinformation about China providing military assistance to Russia. We reject that..." said Qin, when pressed on the issue during an interview with CBS News' Face the Nation.
Qin, China's top diplomat in Washington, made the remarks after host Margaret Brennan asked him whether Beijing intends to "give a lifeline to Vladimir Putin" in the war.
"China stands for peace, opposes war. China is a peace-loving country. We hate to see the situation over Ukraine come to today's, you know, like this and we call for immediate ceasefire and we are promoting peace talks," Qin said at the time.
He added that China is providing Russia with humanitarian assistance, including "foods, medicine, sleeping bags and the baby formula."
"Not weapons and ammunition to any party and we are against a war, as I said, you know, we will do everything to deescalate the crisis," Qin added.
Biden has warned China's President Xi Jinping of "implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia" in Ukraine.
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Embassy in London for comment.
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About the writer
Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more
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