Russia’s struggle to defeat Ukraine ‘a warning’ for China over risks of going to war

Name: Heightened tensions in Taiwan amid Russian invasion of Ukraine
Uploaded: 2022-04-23T14:00:32.000Z
Duration: 2 min 20 s
Description: Heightened tensions in Taiwan amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

The West’s response to the attack and support for Kyiv shows the risks for China if it faces a united front during any conflict

Military analysts say the Russian military’s setbacks show China should not take the decision to wage war lightly

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A destroyed Russian tank in Chernihiv. The Ukrainians have inflicted heavy losses in terms of men and equipment. Photo: AP

Kristin Huang

Published: 10:00pm, 23 Apr 2022

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not only highlighted its tactical errors, but most of all it has taught China about the risks of taking the decision to go to war lightly, diplomatic and military observers have said.

Russia launched a mass offensive on February 24, trying to seize Kyiv and other major cities after six years of fighting in the Donbas region. But instead of the quick and easy victory expected by Russian President Vladimir Putin and many observers, it has been pushed back from the capital and has found itself dragged into a quagmire.

Ukraine brought Russia’s invasion to a standstill partly because of support from other countries.

Western countries have been sending equipment including artillery, anti-aircraft systems, armed drones, armoured trucks and tanks – all intended, in the words of US President Joe Biden, to stop “the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine”.

The US, Britain and other Nato countries have been sharing vital intelligence information, including satellite images and communications intercepts, with Kyiv.

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Heightened tensions in Taiwan amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

Earlier this week, an unofficial Ukrainian military Twitter account posted a cache of uncensored satellite images from Google Maps showing Russian military bases and said Google had “opened access to Russia’s military and strategic facilities” – a claim the tech giant denied.