China has signed a contract with Russia to acquire BMD-4D airborne combat vehicles valued at approximately $580 million. According to the Chinese outlet Sohu, despite the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) having its own advanced military equipment, Beijing is interested in the Russian vehicles to study their technical capabilities and the combat experience behind their use.

Sources cited by Sohu reported that the Chinese side plans to test the BMD-4D’s key features — including armor protection, airborne deployment, and operational performance — while also learning from Russia’s experience in organizing large-scale airborne operations. The publication emphasized that the deal does not indicate any strategic dependence on Russian supplies, noting that China’s defense industry has its own airborne transport and support systems.

At the same time, Sohu pointed out that Russia, which actively employs BMD vehicles in combat, also continues to need significant numbers of them for its own forces.

The Washington Post linked the deal to possible Chinese preparations for a military operation against Taiwan. However, Chinese analysts dismissed this interpretation, stating that an amphibious landing is only one of several potential scenarios. They added that China already possesses sufficient means to carry out large-scale missile and air strikes on the island if necessary.

According to Sohu, the cooperation between Moscow and Beijing reflects a mutually beneficial exchange of strengths: Russia shares its extensive combat experience with airborne forces, while China, with its advanced industrial base, is able to implement best practices swiftly. Analysts noted that growing U.S. involvement in Asia and Washington’s continued support for Taiwan have become additional factors driving closer military and defense collaboration between the two countries.