Espreso. Global

Chinese military cargo arrives in Belarus four times at beginning of January

30 January, 2024 Tuesday
14:50

Belarusian observers have reported that between January 8-11, four planes from China, likely transporting military cargo, landed in Belarus. The unusual activity of the Chinese cargo airline Air China Cargo at Minsk National Airport during this period has raised questions

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This was reported by motolko.help.

In the initial days of January, Air China Cargo's Boeing 747-4FTF exhibited atypical activity, making four flights on the Urumqi - Minsk route over four consecutive days:

  • January 8: Flight CAO1095 to Minsk, return CAO1096.
  • January 9: Flight CAO1097 to Minsk, return CAO1098.
  • January 10: Flight CAO1095 to Minsk, return CAO1096.
  • January 11: Flight CAO1097 to Minsk, return CAO1098.

All four flights landed in Minsk between 09:30 and 10:10, with each plane staying in Belarus for approximately three hours, allowing ample time for unloading.

Observers speculate that the flights were conducted in two batches, on January 8 and 9, as well as on January 10 and 11.

The Minsk National Airport's logistics center, which caters to cargo flights, usually assigns specific parking stands for cargo planes. However, the Chinese B-2476, on this occasion, used stand 1A, typically reserved for servicing government aircraft.

This stand is specifically designed for Belarusian government planes, such as EW-001PA and EW-001PB reportedly used by self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko. Parking in this VIP area is physically separated from others and conveniently located near the airport's exit checkpoint.

  • Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing in early December, raising potential connections to the observed military cargo activity in January.
     
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