Reuters: Russian defense minister personally approved secret military training for Russian troops in China
The military training exercises that China hosted for Russian service members in late 2025 were personally authorized by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, the Reuters news agency reported, citing two European officials and classified documents.
One document reviewed by journalists references an internal order Belousov issued in August 2025, under which a delegation of Russian armed forces personnel traveled to China to take part in training activities at People’s Liberation Army facilities.
Among the courses described in detail is a three-week program on radiation, chemical, and biological defense held in November at a military facility in Beijing. The report includes photographs showing a Chinese instructor conducting classes with Russian service members, who study a model of a nuclear reactor and receive training on chemical and radiation reconnaissance and protection of ventilation systems against contamination.
China has maintained throughout the war in Ukraine that it remains neutral. China’s Foreign Ministry told journalists that Beijing’s position on the war remains unchanged and said the claims about the exercises were “entirely unfounded.”
According to Reuters, about 200 Russian service members underwent training in China in late 2025 under a covert agreement between the two countries. The training took place in Beijing and Nanjing and covered the use of drones, as well as explosives, mines, and electronic warfare systems.
Despite its claims of neutrality, China continues to supply Russia with dual-use goods. The Wall Street Journal has reported that some of these goods can be used to manufacture Shahed-type attack drones. Russia also increased its imports of optical fiber from China tenfold in 2025. The material is used to control fiber-optic FPV drones.
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