A report has revealed that China is aiding Russia with 5G and satellite technology that could give it an advantage in Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
Emerging and evolving technologies are playing a key role in conflicts, with drones and other cyber weapons being expanded at an unprecedented rate by both parties to the conflict.
For such equipment to work effectively on the front line, it requires stable connectivity and geospatial support, and China is providing Russia with that, the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) has found. .
The London-based defense and security think tank says China is collaborating with Russia on 5G and satellite technologies that have “abundant battlefield applications (and in many cases already in use), particularly in Ukraine.” He said that research has shown that.
The report said 5G “has the potential to reshape the battlefield,” allowing militaries to better track military objects and collect large datasets such as soldier biometrics and high-resolution drone imagery. It says it can be quickly transferred and processed and enhance communications, including between unmanned vehicles.
Jack Crawford, a research analyst at Rusi and co-author of the report, said that while there is no guarantee that cooperation between Russia and China will be smooth sailing, there are still “problems with Western partners at odds.” “This will give Russia an advantage in the war effort,” he said. We are working on how to strengthen Ukraine. ”
“Looking east, this cooperation will also support China’s 5G and satellite capabilities, which will be very important to the West when considering China’s plans for Taiwan,” he said. Icited Western concerns that China might eventually invade the autonomous island in order to “unify” it with the mainland.
“More broadly, Russia’s willingness to cooperate with China, Iran, and more recently North Korea to sustain aggression is a sign of deeper rifts between these governments and the West that will become increasingly difficult to mend. It shows the beginning.”
But Roman Kolodi, an international security expert and co-author who focuses on Russia-China cooperation in science, technology and military fields, said China is interested in maintaining its technological competitiveness.
“The two countries [Russia and China]”Despite the joint statement, both countries have trust issues and these can be exploited by the West in a way that minimizes the negative impact on Ukraine,” he said. I.
Cooperation between Russia and China has launched a 5G network in 14 locations in Moscow, with advanced technology enabling doctors to remotely assist colleagues performing surgeries in hospitals and coal miners to operate dump trucks. It is now possible to operate it remotely.
These highly developed capabilities are “exactly the capabilities that could make Russo-Chinese 5G cooperation very useful in wartime situations, and therefore could increase risks for Ukraine,” Rusi said. said in a report released Friday. “The large-scale deployment of drones and advanced communications equipment has become critical on all fronts in Ukraine, from intelligence gathering to air strikes.”
Although Beijing has long denied claims that it provides military aid to Russia, the two countries have made no secret of their close diplomatic and political ties. Chinese President Xi Jinping is known as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has previously expressed readiness to expand cooperation with Russia in areas such as trade, energy and technology.
Analysts have suggested that China is sending advanced technological equipment to Russia in areas such as surveillance, artificial intelligence and computing to strengthen its military.
Crawford said cooperation in satellite technology has allowed Russia to regain much of the surveillance capabilities it lost when Western satellite companies withdrew from the country after the invasion of Ukraine.
“Furthermore, future plans to build Chinese observation posts in Russian regions near Ukraine will continue to strengthen these capabilities,” he added.
“If the West continues to cooperate with Ukraine on similar technologies, it will reduce the unilateral advantage that Russia would have.
“But it is also important for Western countries to encourage cooperation between Russia and China away from more concerning military applications.”
