China makes semi-secret delivery of missiles to Serbia

[dalton99a]

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-china-serbia-nato-682ab79c4239f14ecc1133ff5c7addc9

China makes semi-secret delivery of missiles to Serbia
By DUSAN STOJANOVIC

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Russian ally Serbia took 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.

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.

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.

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.


Chinese Air Force Y-20 planes at Nikola Tesla Airport, Apr 9, 2022


HQ-22 missile system

[unc70]

1. Noticed planes on ADSB as they headed back to China

I happened to notice a "convoy" of Y-20s tracking from Serbia down to the Bosphorus where they soon disappeared from tracking. Noticed one or two more last night.

[LiberalFighter]

2. And they want to be an EU member? Geesh!

[dalton99a]

3. Their application should be rejected

Last edited Sun Apr 10, 2022, 08:27 PM - Edit history (1)

95% of Serbians view Russia as a partner. Only 11% view the EU as an ally
https://ecfr.eu/article/pandemic-trends-serbia-looks-east-ukraine-looks-west/


People drive cars and wave Russian and Serbian flags during a rally in support of Russia in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, March 13, 2022. Image by AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic

[Bev54]

4. Most likely these are going through Serbia to Russia

China is trying to get around possibility of sanctions. I do hope the intelligence community keeps outing this shit.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Russia and China want to carve up the world into their kingdoms.

[Bettie]

6. Plus, if Russia gets Ukraine or even more chunks of it

without any consequences beyond sanctions...well, they likely figure they can just brutally take Taiwan with maybe some sanctions, but nothing more.

[Irish_Dem]

8. Yep, all China has to do is threaten nukes and they can take Taiwan.

China probably is right now preparing how to prevent sanctions from doing damage to them.

[rockfordfile]

7. This is something to watch for

[smirkymonkey]

9. Well, there goes their EU membership.

[unc70]

10. More Chinese Y-20 transports near Serbia