Germany's Federal Foreign Office has summoned China’s representative in Berlin for an "urgent meeting." According to information obtained by Der Spiegel, the discussion focused on reports that the Chinese military is training Russian soldiers.

The Chinese ambassador to Germany was summoned to the Federal Foreign Office on Thursday for an urgent meeting. Sources close to Johann Wadephul (CDU) indicated that the discussion focused on reports alleging that Russian soldiers are being trained in China. These reports describe support for Russia provided by state actors in China—specifically, the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The ministry further stated that the reports were "highly concerning, because the fundamental principle we have frequently articulated remains valid: Russia poses the greatest threat to our Euro-Atlantic security. "Anything that enables Russia to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes "a threat to our security as well." Consequently, China's "decisive and growing support" for Russia's brutal war of aggression "directly affects our security."

The Federal Government makes it very clear in all discussions with the Chinese side "just how deeply concerned we are about China's support for Russia." For instance, Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised the issue with Chinese state and party leader Xi Jinping during his visit to China in February. The matter is also being discussed intensively with European partners.

Drone training

A request for an urgent meeting serves as a means of expressing clear diplomatic protest, though it does not yet constitute a formal summoning.

It emerged in May that the Chinese armed forces had secretly trained around 200 Russian soldiers in China late last year. Some of them have since returned to fight in Ukraine.

The news agency Reuters was the first to report this, citing documents from European intelligence services. According to the reports, the training for the Russian soldiers focused primarily on the use of drones. These findings—which, according to information obtained by Der Spiegel, are also known to the German government—contradict official assurances from the leadership in Beijing that it is maintaining neutrality in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and is not providing military support to Russia.

The German government is continuously considering further sanctions against Russia and those supporting it. This process incorporates available information regarding the circumvention of sanctions and support provided by third countries for the military campaign of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Consequently, Chinese individuals and companies have already been made subject to EU sanctions in more than one hundred cases.

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Translated by Google Translate, mistakes are my own. For those that want the untranslated text: https://archive.fo/zcCtZ.