China is closely monitoring Western military movements and arms deployments in Ukraine through hundreds of researchers at universities affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army, state-owned arms companies, and intelligence think tanks. Beijing aims to draw strategic and technical lessons from this monitoring for a potential confrontation with US-led forces in Asia, particularly around Taiwan. The most prominent areas of Chinese monitoring and research include the analysis and neutralization of advanced weapons, such as the use of Javelin missiles. Chinese researchers are studying ways to protect Russian tanks and helicopters from these shoulder-launched missiles after their significant success against Russian armored vehicles.
China is also conducting a military study of (the effectiveness of Starlink satellites): Here, China is paying particular attention to the network’s ability to provide secure communications on the battlefield and is exploring ways to develop capabilities to shoot down these satellites in low Earth orbit. Furthermore, (Chinese military intelligence is monitoring US missile systems on the battlefield in Ukraine in support of its Russian ally): There is ongoing Chinese and Russian concern and analysis regarding the performance of US missiles and technologies that might be deployed against Chinese forces in the future. Therefore, researchers in the People’s Liberation Army are keen to analyze the various types, technologies, and tactics of US and Western weapons on the ground in Ukraine.
Chinese military intelligence agencies are primarily focused on maintaining a presence on the Ukrainian battlefield to assess tactics. Modern warfare and its tactical methods are studied to understand all the methods, technologies, and tactics of modern warfare, especially in the field of electronic warfare. Chinese analysts observed that Russian communications jamming was insufficient to counter the intelligence provided by NATO to Ukraine, leading to costly ambushes. Chinese military analysts also studied all the tactics of American and Western drones on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Here, China is studying the pivotal role of inexpensive and effective drones in reconnaissance and attack, given that it is a major supplier of components for these aircraft to several parties. Chinese studies also included an analysis of all sabotage operations on the Ukrainian battlefield, such as the bombing of the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, to draw lessons for protecting China’s infrastructure.
Meanwhile, an integrated system of Chinese institutions is operating militarily within the Ukrainian battlefield, including universities, arms companies, and Chinese think tanks, all working to monitor and analyze military movements. Western and American weapons in Ukraine serve not only to provide Russia with technical and informational support but also to draw strategic lessons for a potential confrontation with American and Western forces in Asia. The following details the role of these Chinese entities, based on the latest available data up to early 2026. First, the People’s Liberation Army-affiliated universities (PLA): Chinese defense-related universities play a pivotal role in supporting Russia to circumvent sanctions and develop its military technologies through deepening research partnerships. All 68 universities classified as part of the Chinese defense system have deepened their research ties with Russian institutions since 2019. Furthermore, the “Seven Defense Universities” play a significant role. This group, including Beihang University and the Beijing Institute of Technology, is the most active in developing dual-use civilian-military technologies, providing Moscow with access to expertise in aircraft engines and advanced weapons systems. With field performance analysis, researchers at these Chinese military universities are studying the effectiveness of American weapons, such as Javelin and Starlink missiles, in Ukraine to develop countermeasures.
Herein lies the role of Chinese state-owned arms companies and technical support: Chinese state-owned defense companies continue to supply Russia with vital technological equipment that supports its war machine through Chinese supply and production chains. For example, the Chinese state-owned company CEIEC has signed contracts to design and supply production lines for missile warhead components for Russia and its allies. Furthermore, China provides Russia with drone technology: Chinese companies supply engines and electronic components used in the manufacture of Russian kamikaze drones. Reports estimate that 80% of the critical electronics in Russian drones originate in China. China also provides Russia with technical equipment, including shipments of navigation devices, jamming technology, and spare parts for fighter jets—materials that fill the gaps created by Western sanctions.
This helps us understand the role of Chinese think tanks and intelligence cooperation. Chinese intelligence is an increasing source of strength for Russia in identifying targets and executing operations through China providing Russia with satellite imagery of Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence confirmed in October 2025 that China was supplying Russia with geographic intelligence data and high-resolution satellite imagery to facilitate missile strikes inside Ukraine. (China providing joint strategic analysis): Chinese defense think tanks (more than 100 articles in 20 defense journals) study the successes and failures of Russian tactics in Ukraine and share these findings with the Russian side to enhance joint military-technical cooperation. Here, Chinese monitoring focuses particularly on tracking Western and American military assets and how these advanced American and Western weapons are used inside Ukraine against Russia, to ensure Russia’s ability to counter them technologically. This also provides China with a “live laboratory” to test the effectiveness of Western and American technology against it in the future.
Chinese intelligence is increasingly a source of strength for Russia in identifying targets and executing operations. From this, Chinese military researchers and analysts have drawn numerous strategic and intelligence lessons within the framework of information warfare. Their meticulous observation and understanding have led them to conclude that Ukraine and its allies have won the information war, prompting them to urge China to prepare proactively to prevent Western information campaigns from influencing its population in any future conflict. Consequently, China has succeeded in developing its military doctrine after thoroughly understanding all the American and Western military technologies employed on the Ukrainian battlefield. These lessons are propelling China toward “intelligence” and “system destruction warfare,” where the focus is on integrating artificial intelligence into military decision-making.
Accordingly, China has provided technical support to Russia (as a source of information). Western and Ukrainian reports accuse China of providing technical support, electronic components, and chemical materials to Russian arms factories. This cooperation allows China to obtain field data on the performance of Western weapons captured or destroyed by Russia, facilitating the process of “reverse engineering,” the dismantling and understanding of the technology of Western and American weapons in use.
