Last year, China carried out a secret military training program for Russian military personnel, personally approved by the Russian Minister of Defense, Andrei Belousov, and attended by at least four Russian and Chinese generals, according to European officials and documents consulted by Reuters.
According to the agency, the involvement of high-ranking officials shows the importance that Moscow and Beijing attach to military cooperation, in the context of the war in Ukraine. The revelations have sparked concern in Europe, although China continues to deny that such trainings have taken place.
A classified military document consulted by Reuters refers to an internal order issued in August 2025 by the Russian Minister of Defense, Andrei Belousov. Based on this, a delegation of the Russian armed forces was sent to China to participate in courses organized in facilities of the People’s Liberation Army.
One of the courses described in the documents took place in November, in Beijing, and unfolded over the course of three weeks, being dedicated to protection against radiological, chemical, and biological threats.
According to the documents, Russian soldiers participated in lessons held by Chinese instructors, studied a model of a nuclear reactor, and were trained in areas such as chemical and radiological recognition, as well as protecting ventilation systems against contamination.