China joined Russia on Friday to oppose the expansion of NATO amid heightening tensions with Ukraine, while Moscow backed Beijing in denouncing the formation of blocs in the Asia-Pacific region, in a veiled reference to the Quad alliance as they deepened their strategic alliance to push back mounting pressure from the US and allies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their summit on the sidelines of the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony boycotted by diplomats from the US and allies over allegations of violation of human rights against Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang scaled up the emerging alliance between the two countries to a new level.
Putin was the star leader at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, which was attended by 32 heads of governments and international organisations, including Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Earlier, in a sign of changing equations in Asia, Iran, Russia and China on Friday began a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting security at sea. 11 of Iran's vessels were joined by three Russian ships, including a destroyer, and two Chinese vessels. Iran's Revolutionary Guard was also participating with smaller ships and helicopters.
Tehran has sought to step up military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow amid regional tensions with the United States. Visits to Iran by Russian and Chinese naval representatives have also increased in recent years. Iran has been holding regular military drills in recent months, as attempts to revive its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers flounder. Russia is also at loggerheads with the US and the West over its neighbour Ukraine, where it has sent some 100,000 troops that Washington, Kyiv and their allies fear will be used to invade the country.
