Western sanctions were designed to keep countries from supplying Russia with military-grade equipment, but Politico reported that a "China-sized" loophole is being exploited by the China–Russia alliance.
"What is very clear is that China, for all its claims that it is a neutral actor, is in fact supporting Russia's positions in this war," a Berlin think tank's analyst Helena Legarda told Politico, adding that the European Union needs to impose secondary sanctions on Russia to close loopholes.
Business and customs records show Russian buyers are procuring bulletproof vests and helmets from the Chinese military-grade protective gear company Shanghai H Win, according to records obtained by Politico.
"This spring, one of our customers came to our company to confirm the style and quantity of bulletproof vests, and carefully tested the quality of our vests," Shanghai H Win boasted on its website in March, according to the report.
The dual-use gear gives Western officials the ability to deny that the large purchase orders are a violation of sanctions against supplying Russia's war machine.
"Then there's this situation that we're in at the moment — all these dual-use components or equipment and how you handle those," Legarda told Politico. "I would not expect the EU to be able to agree to sanctions on that."
Also, Russia has reportedly imported $100 million in Chinese drone technology this year, which Politico reported is 30 times the total imported to Ukraine.
Shanghai H Win's boasts of the large purchases of dual-use gear featured a photo on its website of an unnamed smiling man. The company took down the photo after being called by Politico and denied knowing where the man was from, according to the report.
"Because of the war, a lot of trading companies are looking for us and ask: 'Are you making this kind of vest?' We received a lot of inquiries," a sales representative told Politico over the phone.
"He is our customer's customer. We cannot ask him directly, 'Where are you from?' But I guess maybe he is from Europe — maybe Ukraine, maybe Poland, even maybe from Russia. I'm not sure."
Politico's continued investigative reporting has previously unearthed documented evidence that sniper bullets made by U.S. weapons manufacturers were reaching Russia.
Also, Chinese multinational SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd's drones have been found on shelves in Russia.
"We have seen media reports and other documents that appear to show how our products are being transported to Russia and Ukraine from other countries where they can be bought off-the-shelf," the DJI spokesperson told Politico. "However, it is not in our power to influence how our products are being used once they leave our control."
While the sanctions are clear and forceful against Russia, Madrid's IE Business School professor Maxim Mironov said Western officials lack the "will" to enforce sanctions on China.
"Do politicians have enough will to put sanctions on China? Basically, the answer is no," Mironov told Politico.
"China signals: You can try, but I don't care what you are trying to do. And the European Union is like: If you don't like it, we are not going to do it. And if the Chinese see that, they are just going to continue doing what they think is in their best interest."
Politico's myriad requests for comment were not returned by the European Commission, the U.S. National Security Council, and the Chinese Mission to the EU.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.