Something screwy going on with this Belarus situation.
It is well established that Vlad is very far along in his plan to absorb them into the Russia and Lukashenko is just a complete lackey.
Looks to me though like China is making a last minute play to deal directly with Belarus and let Lukey know that China is there for them and he does not necessarily have to give himself and his country away to Russia because good things can happen just by being China's friend.
Now, some may take the other side of that argument and say that Russian and China have just gone full kumbaya and said that they will be having "an unlimited relationship" and that Belarus is slated to be part of Russia, so China getting cozy with Belarus is just an extension.
Yeh, I dunno. Vlad is not that bright. I think Xi played him.
In this way Xi gets another Belt and Road country in the lineup and will eventually deal with Ukraine and have some of the ports there after rehabbing them as part of reconstruction.
The west needs to watch out here but Putin needs to watch his arse too. Lukashenko has been beaten mercilessly by Putin in recent years and is salivating to find another direction. Read the headlines below and decide for yourself whether the Chinese showed poor Lukey a little respect or not when he visited. Compared to his frequent trips to Moscow like a schoolboy going to the principal's office.
Anyway, something cooking there in Belarus. The story of how deep and fast Belarus will be absorbed into Russia still remains to be seen. China messing with Putin's game. China and Russia may have announced that they are "unlimited friends" but they are actually "unlimited snakes."
Rejected by Russia, China Seeks a New Ally in Belarus to Gain Credibility
https://tfiglobalnews.com/2023/02/2...ks-a-new-ally-in-belarus-to-gain-credibility/
Interview: "I have the warmest, kindest memories from my first visit to China," says Belarusian president
https://english.news.cn/20230227/2cff7831673c41c89b3f3733d58a517e/c.html