Belarus strengthens ties with ‘ironclad friend’ China as West slaps sanctions on regime

Belarus’ autocratic leer Alexander Lukashenko has turned to so-called “ironcl friend” People’s Republic of China for support as West including United States mounted pressure on Europe’s “last dictator”. A series of sanctions, in past weeks, was imposed on Belarusian regime by European Union [EU], Britain, US, and Cana over migrant crisis on border with Poland, which West says, has been orchestrated by Belarusian leer. 

As Lukashenko’s Presidency suffocates under Europe’s and West’s criticism and tre embargoes over rigged election last year, a subsequent crackdown on anti-government protesters, and now spilling migrant situation on border, Minsk has stepped up cooperation with China, pushing Sino-Belarusian ties closer. Lukashenko, in controversial elections rejected by West, won by a landslide with 80.10% votes, defeating his closest rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya who garnered 10.12% votes. Protests broke out over election outcomes, prompting  EU, UK, and US to slap sanctions on Minsk. 

China turns Minsk's second-largest tring partner

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Vlimir Makei hailed 'ironcl friendship between both countries, as he noted, that China is now Minsk's second-largest tring partner. In an effort to counter alleged Western belligerence, Belarusian leer has moved closer to China and Russia as ' only way' to secure protection from implications of sanctions. 

Recently, as China blocked tre with Lithuania over establishment of de facto representative office in capital Vilnius for Taiwan, Belarusian leer offered an alternative to Lithuanian products that were previously supplied to China. Belarusian Ambassor to China, Yuri Senko told Global Times, Chinese government’s mouthpiece that Minsk will support China including on Taiwan question in international domain, strengning regional cooperation in Eastern Europe as part of Beijing’s Belt and Ro Initiative (BRI). Belarus has “always hered and will here to one-China principle, we consider island of Taiwan to be an integral part of China,"  Belarus Ambassor to China stressed. 

"On behalf of Belarus, I can assure that we will continue to fulfill our obligations to ensure uninterrupted transit of Chinese goods, as before, and support our strategic partner - China - in international arena on all or issues," Belarus’ Senko affirmed, China’s Global Times reported.  

“So long as we [Belarus] develop such relations with China, we cannot be isolated,” Lukashenko h earlier told Xinhua, China’s state affiliated news agency. He n rigorously began to expand Sino-Belarusian tre from $180 million to $2 billion and appearing for first time on Chinese Foreign Tre and Economic Cooperation Ministry report.

two nations have since cosied as ‘best friends in need,’ pushing forward ir economic diplomacy stemming out of China’s interest in Eastern Europe and its expansionist agenda that propelled its need for search of new markets for Belt and Ro Initiative. 

Whatever reasons, Belarusian President Lukashenko has been vocal about acknowledgement of China’s growing support, stressing at a conference in Minsk, last month, that at a time of unprecedented external and foreign pressure on his country, he received wide-ranging support from its tritional allies, particularly—China. 

“We have received most tangible assistance and support during this difficult time from Russia, China and or countries,” Belarusian leer asserted. Thus, once again we’ve been reassured that a friend in need is a friend indeed,” he said, according to BelTA news agency.