In a major announcement, Russia has suspended the delivery of S-400 ‘Triumf’ surface-to-air missile systems to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Hindustan Times reported citing Chinese newspaper Sohu.
The S-400 is one of the most advanced missile defence systems in the world. India had also placed an order with Russia and will receive the missile system. The S-400 is capable of destroying targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometres and a height of up to 30 kilometres.
Coming after Russia’s announcement, China has reportedly said that Russia was forced to make this decision as it “is worried that the delivery of S-400 missiles at this time will affect the anti-pandemic actions of the People’s Liberation Army and does not want to cause trouble to China.
China received its first batch of S-400 back in 2018, the Russian news agency TASS had reported quoting a diplomatic source.
Russia is also one of the major weapons suppliers to China and many of the PLAAF fighters are based on Russian design.
Just last week, Russia had accused China of espionage, where the investigators have alleged that President of St Petersburg Arctic Social Sciences Academy, Valery Mitko handed over classified material to the Chinese intelligence in early 2018 at China’s Dallan Maritime University where Valery Mitko was a visiting professor.
China has been invested in the Arctic region as it contains hydrocarbon resources and also provides a shorter navigation route to the west. It is alleged that the information shared hydroacoustics that helps in navigation, communications and monitoring submarine activity, among other things.