(MENAFN) The European Union is reportedly considering imposing sanctions on China due to claims that it has supported Russia’s military efforts, Politico reported on Monday, citing a diplomatic source. The proposal is said to be based on recent media investigations.

China has refused to join the Western sanctions against Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Instead, Beijing has continued strong economic relations with Moscow while advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the war. In response, the West has increasingly focused on penalizing Russia’s key trading partners, including China, to cut off resources that could support Moscow's war effort.

A recent Reuters investigation appears to have triggered the EU’s latest move. The report cited customs data and unnamed Western officials who allege that Chinese firms have supplied Russia with equipment that could be used for military purposes—such as drone components, radar parts, and aircraft technology.

A European diplomat told Politico that the report accurately reflects China’s growing role in supporting Russia, suggesting the conflict would be far different without such involvement.

China has firmly rejected similar accusations from U.S. officials. Earlier this month, Chinese envoy Geng Shuang told the UN Security Council that the claims were baseless and part of a “blame game” by Washington. He defended China’s right to maintain trade with Russia, noting that neither the U.S. nor the EU has fully cut off their own economic ties with Moscow.

These developments follow a push by U.S. lawmakers to pass legislation targeting Chinese individuals and entities allegedly aiding Russia’s defense sector in defiance of sanctions. U.S. officials have described China as Russia’s “most significant supplier.”

Russia, for its part, has denied any military imports from China and has repeatedly criticized Western sanctions as illegal and ultimately harmful to all sides.

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