Beijing helping with drone production, space-based capabilities and ballistic missile production

US officials said that China provided more than 70% of the $900m (£723m) in machine tools – probably used to build ballistic missiles – imported in the last quarter of 2023 by Russia.

They also said that 90% of Russia’s microelectronics imports – used to produce missiles, tanks and aircraft – came from China last year.

  • wurzelgummidge@lemmy.worldEnglish
    69·
    7 months ago

    Read your news carefully. Western news media almost never give a name unless there is real evidence. You will frequently see things like “according to experts familiar with the matter”, or “speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to talk to the press”, or any number of other permutations.

    And yet, when quoting Putin, Xi or any of their other favourite pantomime villains they always qualify their statements with “without citing any evidence.”

    • SMillerNL@lemmy.worldEnglish
      132·
      7 months ago

      They could very well get evidence without wanting to name someone. Protecting sources is pretty normal in journalism

      • wurzelgummidge@lemmy.worldEnglish
        34·
        7 months ago

        That does not and should not extend to US government officials or their press releases. Ask a credible journalist. This story was sent to Agence France Press who redistribute it, without without verifying anything, to hundreds of news outlets worldwide in the knowledge that many will just print it as is because they don’t have the resources to follow any of it up.

        You should probably educate yourself on how the news industry works, although you wont like it.

    • whenigrowup356@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      7 months ago

      Sure, any sources should be checked. That said, do you have any particular reason to doubt the figure?

      The two countries have declared a “no limits” partnership, have they not?

      The Intel seems to be about CNC machine tool exports from China to Russia, and FT has also reported (here) on the increase, citing Russian customs data.

      Are there any Russian or Chinese sources you know of that are reporting contradictory information?

    • TheFonz@lemmy.worldEnglish
      54·
      7 months ago

      Were you born yesterday? Protecting sources in journalism has been standard practice since the dawn of time. Media literacy is in the gutter here smh

    • stevedidwhat_infosec@infosec.pubEnglish
      24·
      7 months ago

      If you truly think this is a problem that could only ever be on the “western side”, you’re a fool and a hipocrit.

      I get you might not like western practices, but if you truly care about truth honesty and respect for your fellow people, and aren’t a racist POS, you’d choose your words more carefully next time friend. You ruined the entire conversation we just had because you had to make a shallow point like this.

      Just a thought.