Lukashenko’s visit to China: friendship in times of sanctions

In addition to strengthening an old partnership, the ruler, dictator Lukashenko, hopes one thing above all from his visit to China: to alleviate the pressure of Western sanctions against his country.

Alexander Lukashenko was received at Beijing Airport by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu. Belarusian state media published the pictures. According to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the Belarusian ruler said he was looking forward to meeting his “old friend”, China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping.

China and Belarus have long maintained close ties. Lukashenko, who has been in authoritarian rule since 1994, was in the People’s Republic several times before the corona pandemic. According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the focus of the visit is on expanding cooperation between the two strategic partners.

“Clearly seen who are our enemies and who are our friends”

Belarus is a close ally of Russia and, like Russia, is also affected by sanctions from democratically governed states. Belarus hopes that a closer relationship with China will mitigate some of the resulting negative consequences.

“We have been reliable friends of the Chinese people for the past few decades and will remain so in the future,” Lukashenko said in an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. “Our people, especially because they are suffering from the sanctions of Western states, have clearly recognized who are our enemies and who are our friends. The people of Belarus value the friendship with China very much.“

Belarusian dependence on Russia

The former Soviet Republic of Belarus is financially and politically dependent on its eastern neighbor Russia. Russian troops and military equipment are also stationed in the country, and the armies of both countries regularly carry out joint maneuvers. So far, however, the Belarusian military has apparently not been actively involved in the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

Observers see Lukashenko’s visit to Beijing as another clear signal from the Chinese state and party leadership on which side they are on in the war against Ukraine. China describes itself as neutral.

But while Xi is in Beijing to host Lukashenko, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally, he hasn’t even spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone since the war began.