After the conflict in Iran erupted, three mysterious Chinese Boeing 747 cargo planes were discovered taking off one after another, crossing Central Asia, and disappearing near Iran despite their flight plans indicating their destination as Luxembourg. However, they never approached European airspace, leading to speculation that they may be involved in transporting military supplies. Experts suggest that the Chinese Communist Party, facing internal and external pressures, may be secretly aiding Iran in fear of offending the United States and its allies.
According to a report by the UK’s “Daily Telegraph” on June 18, flight data shows that following Israel’s attack on Iran, a cargo plane took off from China the next day (14th), another from a coastal city on the 15th, and a third from Shanghai on the 16th. All of these cargo planes were Boeing 747 aircraft.
The flight plans of these three planes indicated Luxembourg as their destination but they never flew over European airspace. They flew west from northern China, passed through Kazakhstan, headed south through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and disappeared from radar as they approached Iranian airspace.
Previously, Epoch Times reported that a cargo flight operated by Cargolux Airlines International, based in Luxembourg and partially owned by a Chinese company, appeared to have changed its scheduled route from China to Luxembourg to flying to Iran.
According to data from Flightradar24, on June 15, a Cargolux Airlines International flight (CV9736) took off from Zhengzhou, China, with Luxembourg as its intended destination. However, flight tracking records show that the aircraft turned towards Iranian airspace after turning off its transponder over Turkmenistan, just before disappearing from public radar.
Turkmenistan, Iran’s neighboring country and considered a close ally of Tehran, is where a Chinese company, HNCA, acquired 35% of Cargolux Airlines’ shares in 2014. As part of the deal, Cargolux Airlines was to establish Zhengzhou as a second hub after Luxembourg.
Data from FlightAware, a global flight tracking platform, also confirms that an aircraft from Zhengzhou, China, made a stop in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, before heading to Luxembourg. AirNavRadar also recorded the plane passing through Turkmenistan’s airspace before disappearing from radar.
According to “Daily Telegraph,” Cargolux Airlines International, responsible for operating these flights, stated that their planes did not use Iranian airspace but did not comment on the contents of the cargo. Cargo manifests are usually not disclosed, and declared contents may not be accurate.
Boeing 747 aircraft are capable of transporting military equipment and weapons, raising suspicions that the Chinese Communist Party may be clandestinely shipping military supplies to Iran.
Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research analyst Shen Mingshi told Epoch Times that the flights to Iran could be for transporting military supplies based on Iran’s operational needs, such as raw materials for missile fuel production. He believes similar situations may occur in the future.
Following Israel’s raid on Iran on June 13, both sides engaged in retaliatory strikes, drawing attention to Beijing’s stance as a perceived supporter of Iran. The Chinese government currently expresses “deep concern” about the situation possibly spiraling out of control and calls for de-escalation, stating its willingness to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.
Representing China at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Li Song stated on the 16th that China opposes armed attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities and supports establishing a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East along with other weapons of mass destruction. However, evidence suggests that Iran could rapidly develop nuclear weapons, and Israel’s strike on Iran is part of its fundamental strategy to counter significant security threats.
Shen Mingshi argues that China needs to support Iran to contain the United States in the Middle East and to import oil from Iran at lower prices and export weapons. However, it’s currently challenging for China as its covert support to Hamas and the youth armed forces in Yemen has already irked Israel. Israel is also aware of China’s military assistance to Iran.
“China can’t offend Israel and the United States. It can only support Iran in a covert manner while hypocritically expressing the desire for a nuclear-free Middle East,” he said.
Shen Mingshi believes that China is currently facing both internal and external challenges, unable to openly aid Iran for fear of becoming an enemy of the United States and Israel, as well as other American allies.