US raises alarms over Beijing’s indirect role in Ukraine conflict after capture of two Chinese fighters by Kyiv
The United States expressed serious concern on Tuesday (8 April) following reports that two Chinese nationals had been captured while allegedly fighting for Russia in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
Responding to the development, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the situation as “disturbing”, pointing to what she said was a reflection of China’s growing complicity in Moscow’s military efforts.
“China is a major enabler of Russia in this war. Nearly 80 per cent of the dual-use materials that sustain Russia’s war machine come from China,” Bruce told reporters, referring to goods that can serve both civilian and military purposes.
She added that the ongoing collaboration between the world’s two largest nuclear powers threatens to increase global instability, with broader implications for international safety, security, and economic wellbeing.
Although China has praised its strategic ties with Russia, Beijing has publicly maintained a stance of neutrality and has refrained from offering open military support in the Ukraine conflict.
The United States, under both the current and previous administrations, has repeatedly condemned China for exporting dual-use items to Russia.
President Donald Trump, who has made confronting China a key foreign policy priority, has continued efforts to broker an end to the war, but without tangible results so far.
Kyiv earlier revealed that two Chinese citizens had been detained by Ukrainian forces on its soil, reportedly while engaged in combat alongside Russian troops. The men were apprehended in the Donetsk region and are currently under investigation.
