The delivery of Chinese weapons to Serbia during the Russian occupation in Ukraine threatens the region

At a time of heightened tensions over Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, which threatens to spread to the Western Balkans, Serbia was semi-secretly supplied with Chinese weapons, for which Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic declared just days ago that Serbia would have more powerful weapons. He did not specify whose weapons they were.

Although Serbia is a country aspiring the EU membership, the actions of its rulers show a completely different policy and path. Recent events are increasingly against the policies of the European Union and the West. In recent years, the Serbian president has often boasted of weapons from China, but especially weapons from Russia. His statements can be interpreted as a threat to the countries of the region.

As then, the same thing is happening now. The question is whether Serbia has reason to fear during the war in Ukraine, while the whole world fears the move of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who threatened twice with nuclear weapons.

Although Serbia voted in favor of UN resolutions condemning Russian attacks on Ukraine, it refused to join international sanctions against its allies in Moscow or to directly criticize apparent crimes committed by the Russian military there.

In 2020, US officials warned Belgrade of purchasing the HK-22 anti-aircraft system, the export version of which is known as the FK-3. They said that if Serbia really wants to join the European Union and other Western alliances, it must harmonize its military equipment with Western standards.

The Chinese missile system is widely compared to the American Patriot air defense and Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, although it has a shorter range than the more advanced S-300.

The Chinese air defense system was secretly handed over to Serbia through six Chinese aviation Y-20 transport aircraft, which can be considered a demonstration of force.

Serbia will be the first Chinese missile operator in Europe.

Reactions of Kosovo officials to the delivery of Chinese weapons to Serbia

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense, Armend Mehaj, reacted after the report that Serbia bought missile systems and weapons from China, he called Serbia’s act destructive, dangerous and anti-Western.

“This disgusting show is happening at a time when the EU and NATO and the whole world of pro-Euro-Atlantic values ​​are facing the attacker of these values, Russia and its allies. By whom is Serbia threatened, or against whom is Serbia armed with the most advanced systems of attack and defense? What hypocrisy is this? Until when with these double standards?”, Mehaj wrote on Facebook.

Mehaj added that Kosovo is constantly reacting to these destructive behaviors of Serbia, but also called on NATO, the EU and the UN to react to these movements of Serbia.

Former Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj also reacted. He said that the delivery of weapons from China to Serbia poses a serious threat, especially to Kosovo.

“The recent handover of weapons from China to Serbia, and earlier from Russia, poses a serious threat to the Western Balkans, especially to Kosovo,” Hoxhaj wrote on Twitter.

Blerim Vela, Chief of Cabinet of the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has expressed concern about the sending of Chinese weapons to Serbia, adding that Serbia’s membership in the EU should be suspended.

“The second day of the delivery of Chinese weapons to Serbia: several PLAAF (Chinese Air Force) planes flew over the Bosphorus on the way to Batajnica air base, the HK22 version Red Banner SAMK for export was produced by the Shaanki Yellow River Group industry”,  Vela wrote in a statement on Twitter. / The Geopost /