China Has the Whip-Hand in Russia's War War in Ukraine
4 days ago
- #China-Dominance
- #UAV-Warfare
- #Global-Power-Shift
- China holds a strategic advantage in the Russo-Ukraine War due to its dominance in UAV (drone) production and components.
- Both Ukraine and Russia heavily rely on Chinese supplies for UAV parts, including engines, cameras, bodies, and electronics.
- China's DJI controls about 70% of the world's commercial UAV market, with Chinese manufacturers dominating 80-90% of global production.
- If China were to halt UAV component exports, it would severely cripple Ukrainian and Russian drone production, impacting the war's outcome.
- The U.S. lags behind in UAV production capacity, with plans to build a facility producing 1 million drones annually still far below current Ukrainian or Russian output.
- China also dominates rare earth metals (REE) and lithium battery production, further solidifying its control over critical war materials.
- The article suggests that the 'Chinese Century' is emerging, with China's economic, industrial, and military growth outpacing the U.S. and reshaping global power dynamics.
- Europe is seen as a potential counterweight to China, but coordination among European nations remains challenging.