The US government is targeting Russian arms production with new sanctions. About 200 companies and 80 individuals in countries that would support Russia in purchasing materials for its weapons production are affected by the sanctions, the US Treasury Department said. A remarkable number of Chinese companies and individuals are on the list. “China mainly exports microchips that Russia uses to make precision weapons,” says former commander of the Army Mart de Kruif.
New American sanctions package against Russia mainly targets China
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While China apparently kept aloof at the beginning of the war, after two years the opposite appears to be the case, according to the former commander. “China mainly supports Russia with the export of civilian items,” says De Kruif, referring to ‘dual-use goods’ that can also be used to make weapons. “Russia is heavily dependent on that stuff for its precision weapons like cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and glide bombs.”
Image Xi
According to De Kruif, the Chinese will probably circumvent the sanctions, but it will be a dent in President Xi Jinping’s carefully cultivated image as an impartial statesman and visionary. ‘The image of a neutral Xi is going to change. China also buys most of Iran’s oil. The conflict of the future between the US and China is taking shape.’
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Chloropicrin
The sanctions also target Russian production of chemical and biological weapons. Earlier yesterday, the US State Department accused Moscow of using several irritant gases in its war against Ukraine. It concerns the toxic substance chloropicrin. According to De Kruif, a type of tear gas that is used against static positions of the Ukrainians.
‘All we know is that they found that the gas was being used hundreds of times. Although America is the only source, the OPCW also confirms those findings, so there is a grain of truth in it.’
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Three people linked to the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny are also being punished. The Kremlin critic died in Russian custody in February. According to his supporters, he was murdered.
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As a result of the new sanctions, all assets of those affected in the United States will be frozen. US citizens or people located in the US are prohibited from doing business with the sanctioned companies and individuals. The sanctions also make it more difficult for those affected to do international business.
