Belarus, meanwhile, has been targeted with Western sanctions for its role assisting Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Russia, with the approval of Lukashenko, has used Belarus to launch attacks on Ukraine, with Russian soldiers also positioned on Belarusian territory. China has asserted that it plays a neutral role in Russia’s assault on its neighbor. Lukashenko noted that Belarus depends mainly on “friends” such as China and Russia for military aid. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu’s visit to Belarus comes as both countries face diplomatic tensions with the West. Belarus is a key ally in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Is China showing its stand against the west openly ?