A cache of “contracts and correspondence” obtained by hackers who call themselves Black Moon indicates that in 2023 Russia, which possesses “practical experience and capabilities for air manoeuvre that China lacks,” agreed to provide the People’s Liberation Army with
a complete set of weapons and equipment to equip an airborne battalion, as well as other special equipment necessary for airborne infiltration of special forces, along with a full cycle of training for operators and technical personnel to use this equipment. In addition, Russia is transferring technologies that will allow China to scale up the production of similar weapons and military equipment….
The agreements state that all armoured vehicles must be equipped with Chinese communication and command and control suites, and with verification of their electromagnetic compatibility with Russian electronic equipment. This is due both to the need to maintain interoperability with other Chinese units, and the better technical capabilities of Chinese equipment. The Russians must also prepare the equipment and software for the use of Chinese ammunition.
The agreements also require Russia to train a battalion of Chinese paratroopers in employing the equipment.
All this is motivated by the possibility of a risky amphibious invasion of Taiwan by the PLA, which therefore wants to find new methods of moving units and new locations “at which it can move units onto Taiwan” (RUSI, September 26, 2025).
According to the the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, the 800 or so pages “of contracts and collateral materials” seem to be for real; some of the details in them have been independently verified. “However, there is also the possibility that parts of the documents have been altered or omitted.”
The authors note the 2027 date by which Xi Jinping reportedly wants the PLA to be “ready to” grab Taiwan. Some, including our James Roth, have doubted whether this bandied-about date means much. Roth has published several articles here about the difficulties that the PLA would face if it were to attempt a full-scale invasion of Taiwan.
Also see:
StoptheCCP.org: “How Not to Better Defend Taiwan”
StoptheCCP.org: “Three Ways Red China Might Not Grab the Republic of China”
StoptheCCP.org: “What War Between Beijing and Taipei Would Really Mean”
