After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, China sharply increased exports to Russia of nitrocellulose, which can be used to make ammunition.< /p>
This is evidenced by the data of the Chinese customs authorities, analyzed by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK. In particular, from 2015 to 2021, China almost did not export nitrocellulose to the Russian Federation, but from May 2022 supply of this raw material to Russian customers increased dramatically.
As a result, in 2022, China exported more than 700 tons of nitrocellulose to Russia. In 2023, this volume almost doubled and exceeded 1,300 tons. About 110 tons have already been exported from January to March 2024.
Nitrocellulose – a highly flammable compound used in the manufacture of paints, varnishes and inks, as well as explosives and ammunition.
China exports nitrocellulose to various countries, including the US and France. However, the US is concerned about China's export of dual-use materials to Russia.
During a visit to China in April, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken conveyed these concerns to Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other senior officials.
As reported, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Wenbin on May 16 said that China controls the export of dual-purpose materials and criticized the accusations of the United States.