On the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a Chinese company is considering sending Russia 100 "kamikaze" drones. The news comes as China drafted a 12-point peace plan for the region..According to German magazine Der Spiegel, a Chinese manufacturer is in talks to sell the Russian military 100 drones capable of carrying 50kg worth of warheads. The company, Xi'an Bingo Intelligent Aviation, also reportedly has plans to deliver blueprints to allow Russia to independently produce 100 drones each month..The so-called "kamikaze" drones have become a useful weapon in the Russia-Ukraine war, used by both sides to take out infantry and armour. Russia has utilized Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones, designed to hover over a target until instructed to release its explosive payload..Ukraine's main military drone is the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2, which was used in the attack that sank the Russian warship Moskva in the Black Sea in April 2022. Ukraine has also been given Switchblade kamikaze drones by the United States..The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday it was not aware of the talks between Russia and the Chinese company over the drone deal, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin calling the German report "disinformation.".“China has always taken a cautious and responsible approach to military exports, and does not offer any arms sales to conflict zones or parties involved in wars," he said..China claimed neutrality since Russia first invaded Ukraine, while also declaring a "no-limits" friendship with Russia and refusing to criticize the country for starting the conflict..On Friday, China released a peace plan that called for, among many things, the the abandonment of the "Cold War mentality," the ceasing of hostilities, the resolution of the humanitarian crisis, the end of sanctions, the stability of supply chains, and the promotion of post-war reconstruction..The Chinese government’s 885-word statement was also careful not to refer to Russia’s actions as an “invasion,” instead calling it “the Ukraine crisis.”.On Friday, United States Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said of the prospect of China arming Russia, "It can’t help the peace if China effectively supplies the one nation that has broken the international law on the sovereignty of Ukraine and been inflicting war crimes.”.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also warned China against sending weapons to Russia, claiming it would be breaching international law by supporting an illegal war of aggression..“On the question of supplies of military support from China to Russia, we have not seen any actual delivery of lethal aid," Stoltenberg said.."What we have seen are signs and indications that China may be planning and considering to supply military aid to Russia.”."China should not do that.".On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said China must make a "pragmatic assessment of what is happening" and not give military aid to Russia..“Because if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that,” he said.
