The German Foreign Ministry summoned China's ambassador to Berlin on Thursday after intelligence reports emerged indicating that the Chinese military had been secretly training Russian soldiers.
The move followed media reports, based on European intelligence documents, alleging that hundreds of Russian soldiers were secretly trained by the Chinese military and that some were even deployed to conflict zones in Ukraine.
In a statement on what it described as "extremely alarming" allegations, the German Foreign Ministry stressed that any support for Russia's war against Ukraine constitutes a direct threat to German and European national security.
A ministry spokesperson said, "Anything that enables Russia to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine is a threat to our security," and noted that the alleged support provided by Chinese government and military entities to Moscow directly affects the continent's stability.
While China's embassy in Berlin has not yet issued a direct statement on the latest summons, Beijing has previously dismissed similar allegations as "baseless."
Meanwhile, two European officials had disclosed that the covert military training China provided to Russian forces last year was carried out with the personal approval of Russia's defense minister and involved the direct participation of at least four generals.
The officials assessed that "the involvement of high-level figures in training linked to the Ukraine war reflects the great importance of this cooperation for Moscow and Beijing," and said it had caused widespread concern in Europe despite Beijing's repeated denials.
