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As China boosts ties with Russia, Belarus, Europe ponders possible rising threat
- European Union may reconsider its relationship with the world’s second-largest market because of Beijing’s support for Moscow
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Finbarr Berminghamin Brussels
A brisk stroll from the eastern front of the European Union, a company of People’s Liberation Army soldiers in full combat gear brandished assault rifles and held aloft the five-star flag of China – in Belarus.
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A few metres behind them, a row of tanks sat in formation. To their left, a larger gathering of Belarusian soldiers proudly waved their red and green flag in the air.
The armies were taking part in an 11-day joint training exercise in the city of Brest, just 5km (3 miles) from the Polish border. As part of their “Eagle Assault” anti-terrorist programme, Belarusian and Chinese forces will, at times, work as a single unit, Minsk has said.
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“We are pushing China to put pressure on Belarus, but apparently they didn’t understand our request and sent the PLA to Minsk instead,” said a Polish official.
He was referring to the “hybrid warfare” dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko has ordered against its Western neighbour. The documented and ongoing incidents – such as forcing migrants from Iraq into Belarus over the Polish border – have fuelled a crisis between the two countries.
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