American officials have uncovered a disturbing link between China and Russia during investigations into the ongoing war in Ukraine. It has been revealed that the Chinese company Chang Guang, which receives significant government support, has been providing intelligence to Russia. This information, reported by UNN with reference to The Wall Street Journal, has further deepened concerns in Washington.
The Biden administration had already imposed sanctions on Chang Guang in 2023 when its satellites were suspected of assisting the Wagner paramilitary group during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The current revelations show that the company supplied Russian fighter jets with high resolution images of the battlefield, strengthening Moscow’s military efforts against Ukraine.
Chang Guang has now also been accused by the US State Department of aiding Houthi rebels in Yemen, who attacked American warships in the Red Sea. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated that the company’s actions, combined with Beijing’s support even after private discussions, expose the falseness of China’s claims to support peace.
The Chinese company has denied any connection to the Houthis or their Iranian backers, dismissing the accusations as fabricated. Similarly, the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed ignorance of the details but reiterated Beijing’s stated wish to ease tensions in the Red Sea.
Despite this, Washington is increasingly worried. Without Chinese government intervention, it remains difficult for the United States to restrict Chang Guang’s activities, as Beijing often permits domestic firms to conduct business with actors opposed by America, including the sale of drones to Russian buyers.
Chang Guang is rapidly expanding its satellite network. As of the end of 2024, the company had launched 117 satellites under the Jilin-1 programme, with ambitions to operate 300 satellites in the coming years. This would create the largest commercial network of its kind, surpassing the 200 satellites currently operated by Planet Labs of San Francisco. The network is capable of observing any location on Earth up to 40 times a day.
The company’s website offers customers the ability to purchase satellite images and participate in a “knowledge sharing” platform. Last year, users reportedly used this network to capture images of the US military’s latest B-21 Raider stealth bomber, still under development, parked at a base in California. The Pentagon declined to comment on these reports.
Chang Guang’s rapid rise fits within China’s broader strategy of “military civil fusion,” aimed at dissolving barriers between defence firms and civilian tech startups.
Ukraine has previously handed evidence to Chinese authorities showing the involvement of Chinese citizens in the war on the side of Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers had captured two Chinese citizens fighting within Russian forces in Donbas and reported that at least 155 Chinese nationals are fighting against Ukraine, often recruited via social media platforms like TikTok.
