Russia, China Held Secret 2025 Drills Including 3-Week RCB Defense Training
Updated
Updated · Defence24.com · Jul 1
Russia, China Held Secret 2025 Drills Including 3-Week RCB Defense Training
3 articles · Updated · Defence24.com · Jul 1
Summary
Russian documents and European officials indicate Russia and China ran secret military training in 2025, including a three-week radiological, chemical and biological defense course in Beijing approved by Defense Minister Andrey Belousov.
At least four Russian and Chinese generals helped organize and conduct the program, underscoring that bilateral military cooperation extended beyond publicly acknowledged exercises.
The documents said Russian participants praised Chinese equipment, technology and instructors’ theoretical knowledge, while criticizing the Chinese side for lacking combat experience.
Beijing called the allegations “completely groundless,” and Russian lawmaker Andrey Kartapolov dismissed the Reuters report as “complete nonsense,” saying Russia had nothing to learn from China.
The disclosure is likely to deepen European concern over China’s role as what some EU voices call a decisive enabler of Russia’s war, not just an economic partner.