China sends missiles to Serbia through NATO airspace

Chinese military aircraft traveled through the airspace of two NATO members on Monday to deliver missiles to Serbia, a close ally of Russia, as tensions rise in eastern Europe.

Six Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes landed at Nikola Tesla civilian airport in Belgrade on Saturday, The Associated Press reported, citing "media and military experts," as well as pictures of Chinese cargo planes with military markings in Serbia.

The Chinese planes allegedly flew en masse to bring HQ-22 surface-to-air missile systems for the Serbian military. The planes flew over Turkey and Bulgaria, both NATO members, raising concerns about China's presence on the global stage.

Serbian military analyst Aleksandar Radic told the AP that “the Chinese carried out their demonstration of force.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic alluded to the missiles on Sunday after he said he would present his military's "newest pride" later this week.

Western nations are expressing concerns over an arms buildup in the Balkans as Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine continues. 

While Serbia has voted to condemn Russia in the United Nations, it has not joined international sanctions against Moscow or called out the Kremlin over reported human rights atrocities in Ukraine.

The AP observed that some in the West worry Serbia could be looking toward its former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. While Serbia, China and Russia do not recognize Kosovo as a state, the United States and many Western nations do.