WSJ: China’s car exports hit a record high

China takes the first place in the world in the export of cars, while sales of Chinese equipment have been pushed to a record level by the demand for traditional gasoline-powered cars in Russia, writes the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

In terms of the volume of exports, the PRC displaces Japan from the first place. The publication calls it “a tectonic shift in the global auto industry.”

According to the Chinese Automobile Association, in 2023 Chinese automakers sold at least five times more cars to Russia than 160,000 units a year earlier. In this regard, it is noted that the situation was influenced by the withdrawal of Western companies from Russia – after the invasion of its army into Ukraine.

The Chinese association estimated that 5.26 million cars were sold abroad last year, and this is probably almost a million more than the export of cars produced in Japan. According to the latest official data from Tokyo, during the 11 months of 2023, Japan sent about 4 million cars abroad.

The President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, recently exchanging New Year’s greetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced the strengthening of the foundation of relations between the two countries in 2023. He calls Putin his good friend.

The rapprochement between Moscow and Beijing causes concern among Western leaders. American intelligence indicated that China is helping Russia circumvent Western sanctions and possibly providing Moscow with military and dual-use technologies for the war in Ukraine. China has repeatedly asserted that the country adheres to neutrality and does not sell weapons to conflict zones.