For the first time, China deployed troops to Belarus for a joint exercise dubbed “Eagle Assault,” which simulated an airport capture near the Polish border. Experts believe the training exercise is a response to NATO’s growing interest in the Asia-Pacific region and a signal that China’s involvement in Europe will continue to increase.
The exercise came just days after NATO leaders issued a statement expressing “profound concern” over China’s growing alliance with Russia. Belarus, already firmly aligned with Russia, is strengthening ties with China after joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a security association Beijing and Moscow are promoting as an Eastern-led alternative to NATO.
The Chinese Defense Ministry praised the exercise, highlighting the “good technical and tactical skills” and “strong fighting spirit” demonstrated by Chinese and Belarusian troops. China praised the “seamless coordination” and “high level of trust” between the two forces.
Meanwhile, China and Russia conducted a six-day naval exercise off the southern coast of China, simulating the interception of high-speed anti-ship missiles. The exercise aimed to demonstrate the ability to counter “maritime security threats.” Western concerns over the cooperation were dismissed by Chinese experts, who argued that the drill was focused on combat tactics and did not target any specific country.
The Global Times, a Chinese state-run newspaper, suggested that the exercise is part of a broader effort to provide a “stabilizing” factor in the global and regional security landscape. However, analysts disagree, noting that China’s territorial aggression in the South China Sea and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine do not support such a claim.
The exercise comes as China is using military power to push Filipinos out of their territorial waters and as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s presence on the global stage is also raising concerns.
The joint exercise marks a significant escalation of China’s military involvement in Europe, with experts suggesting that China is sending a message to NATO that it is willing to make trouble on “NATO’s strategic eastern flank” if NATO enters the space of activity of China’s strategic interests.
