China makes semi-secret delivery of missiles to Serbia

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Russian ally Serbia accepted the delivery of a sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system in a veiled operation this weekend amid Western concerns that an arms buildup in the Balkans at the time of the war in Ukraine could threaten the fragile peace in the region.

Media and military experts said Sunday that six Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes landed at Belgrade’s civilian airport early Saturday, reportedly carrying HQ-22 surface-to-air missile systems for the Serbian military.

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The Chinese cargo planes with military markings were pictured at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport. Serbia’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to AP’s request for comment.

The arms delivery over the territory of at least two NATO member states, Turkey and Bulgaria, was seen by experts as a demonstration of China’s growing global reach.

"The Y-20s’ appearance raised eyebrows because they flew en masse as opposed to a series of single-aircraft flights," wrote The Warzone online magazine. "The Y-20′s presence in Europe in any numbers is also still a fairly new development."

A Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force performs during the 12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China 2018, in Zhuhai city, southern China on Nov. 7, 2018.  (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Serbian military analyst Aleksandar Radic said that "the Chinese carried out their demonstration of force."

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic all but confirmed the delivery of the medium-range system that was agreed to in 2019, saying Saturday he will present "the newest pride" of the Serbian military on Tuesday or Wednesday.

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He had earlier complained that NATO countries, which represent most of Serbia’s neighbors, are refusing to allow the system’s delivery flights over their territories amid tensions over Russia’s aggression on Ukraine.

Although Serbia has voted in favor of U.N. resolutions that condemn the bloody Russian attacks in Ukraine, it has refused to join international sanctions against its allies in Moscow or outright criticize the apparent atrocities committed by the Russian troops there.

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In 2020, U.S. officials warned Belgrade against the purchase of HQ-22 anti-aircraft systems, whose export version is known as FK-3. The U.S. said that if Serbia really wants to join the European Union and other Western alliances, it must align its military equipment with Western standards.

A Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force is displayed during the 12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China 2018, Nov. 6, 2018, in Zhuhai city, southern China. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

The Chinese missile system has been widely compared to the American Patriot and the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, although it has a shorter range than more advanced S-300s. Serbia will be the first operator of the Chinese missiles in Europe.

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Serbia was at war with its neighbors in the 1990s. The country, which is formally seeking EU membership, has already been boosting its armed forces with Russian and Chinese arms, including warplanes, battle tanks and other equipment.

U.S.-manned Patriot missiles protect a nearby British and U.S airbase in front of the oil fields in Kuwait March 16, 2003.  (REUTERS/Russell Boyce)

In 2020, it took delivery of Chengdu Pterodactyl-1 drones, known in China as Wing Loong. The combat drones are able to strike targets with bombs and missiles and can be used for reconnaissance tasks.

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There are fears in the West that the arming of Serbia by Russia and China could encourage the Balkan country toward another war, especially against its former province of Kosovo that proclaimed independence in 2008. Serbia, Russia and China don’t recognize Kosovo’s statehood, while the United States and most Western countries do.