Exclusive-Russia approved secret China military training at top level, sources say

Key Points:

• China's covert military training of Russian forces last year, involving radiological, biological, and chemical warfare, was personally approved by Russia's Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and included participation from high-ranking generals from both countries, according to European officials and classified documents seen by Reuters.
• The training, conducted at People's Liberation Army facilities in China, included a three-week session in Beijing focused on protection against radiological, chemical, and biological threats, highlighting the strategic importance of the cooperation amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
• Both Russia and China have denied the allegations, with China calling the claims "entirely unfounded" and maintaining a stance of neutrality in the Ukraine war, while the Kremlin dismissed related reports as "false information."
• The European Union has confirmed the training took place and is assessing its implications, considering potential responses despite China's role as a key EU trade partner and Beijing's presentation as a peace mediator.
• Internal Russian military reports praised the quality of Chinese equipment and instruction but noted China's lack of combat experience, contrasting with Russia's extensive combat experience in Ukraine; senior Russian officials have publicly dismissed the training reports as nonsense.