Moscow is covertly bolstering Beijing’s airborne military capabilities, potentially paving the way for a future invasion of Taiwan, according to a damning new report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
The analysis, grounded in around 800 pages of internal Russian documents leaked by the hacktivist group Black Moon, sheds light on military contracts and communications between the two nations.
These files, some of which have been verified and shared with the Associated Press, outline the supply of high-altitude parachute systems, amphibious assault vehicles, and training support from Russia to China.
Do Russia help China prepare for a potential invasion of Taiwan?
While the documents stop short of directly naming Taiwan, the implications are clear—China is quietly preparing for scenarios that could involve a cross-strait assault.
“The Chinese school of airborne landing is very young,” said Oleksandr Danylyuk, co-author of the RUSI report. He believes Russian involvement could accelerate China’s airborne programme by as much as 10 to 15 years.
Strategic Supplies & Covert Collaboration
The leaked files detail meetings in Moscow, timelines for equipment deliveries, and specific weaponry, including:
- 37 light amphibious assault vehicles
- 11 amphibious anti-tank self-propelled guns
- 11 airborne armoured personnel carriers
- Command and observation vehicles
Total value? Over $210 million.
Beijing reportedly requested that all equipment be compatible with Chinese communication systems and ammunition, signalling not just a purchase, but full integration into China’s military infrastructure.
Beijing’s Airborne Leap: A Quiet Game Changer
China’s interest lies not only in hardware, but also in Russia’s combat-tested command and control systems for parachute operations. This knowledge transfer could bridge a critical gap in China’s military playbook.
Extreme Altitude Capabilities
Among the most striking revelations is China’s request for Dalnolyot—a Russian high-altitude parachute system.
Designed for jumps from 8,000 metres (approx. 26,250 feet), the system allows gliding distances up to 80 kilometres. That means Chinese forces could infiltrate targets without entering Taiwanese airspace.
“Chinese special forces groups [could] penetrate the territory of other countries without being noticed,” the report notes.
These jumps would allow troops to land deep within strategic locations—potentially including golf courses near ports and airfields—ideal staging grounds for an initial assault wave.
Taiwan: The Unspoken Target
While not explicitly mentioned in the documents, the RUSI report infers that Taiwan is the primary focus. Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly instructed the military to be ready for an invasion as early as 2027.
Despite ongoing doubts about whether such an operation is imminent, this build-up of capability hints at serious long-term planning.
Russia’s Motivations: Distraction and Dollars
The report also outlines Russia’s potential motivations:
- Revenue: Funding its ongoing war in Ukraine through arms sales
- Distraction: Drawing the U.S. into a conflict in the Pacific, weakening its focus on Eastern Europe
“The greatest value of the deal” for China, Danylyuk and Watling write, lies in training and procedures, something Russia possesses in abundance—and China lacks.
Russia’s Own Paratroop Failures
Ironically, Russia’s own record with airborne assaults is far from stellar. In 2022, Russian troops failed to secure Hostomel airfield near Kyiv. Several helicopters were shot down, and their plan to establish an air bridge into Ukraine collapsed.
Western analysts say that miscalculation turned a planned blitz into a years-long war.
Yet, this hasn’t stopped Moscow from leveraging its historical experience in airborne warfare to profit and posture on the global stage.
A Fragile Balance of Power
While China boasts superior equipment, its lack of battlefield experience is evident. Russia, battered and bloodied in Ukraine, brings a different kind of value combat lessons, no matter how bitter.
“Russia and China have their own relative strengths in paratrooping,” said Beijing-based military commentator Song Zhongping.
They “conducted joint air, sea patrols and drills, which indicates they are learning from each other’s strengths to address their own weaknesses.”
What Happens Next?
Neither the Kremlin nor China’s defence ministry has commented on the revelations. Taiwan remains on alert, as the geopolitical chessboard grows ever more volatile.
For now, China has yet to show direct movement toward an invasion, but each training session, each hardware delivery, each joint exercise brings the region closer to a potential flashpoint.
And if the skies over Taiwan ever fill with silent gliders from 8,000 metres up, it may well be Russia’s shadow behind them.
