China in 2023–2024 assisted Russia in establishing production of Iskander-M ballistic missiles, according to an assessment by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Over this period, Beijing sharply increased shipments to Russia of so-called priority goods—a list of 50 dual-use items that includes computer chips, machine tools, radars, and sensors needed to sustain military operations.
In 2024, China accounted for roughly 70% of Russia’s imports of ammonium perchlorate—a key component of missile fuel for ballistic systems.
In addition, Chinese companies supplied Russia with drone airframes, lithium batteries, and fiber-optic cables, without which the production of fiber-optic drones is impossible.
Against this backdrop, China’s role in Russia’s foreign trade increased markedly—its share approached 34%, while total trade turnover reached $250bn.