China’s defence chief arrived in Belarus for a three-day visit to strengthen ties with the staunch Russian ally as Nato member states bolster border security with the nation.

Defence minister Li Shangfu, who is aiming to intensify military ties with nations across the globe, flew from Russia and was welcomed Wednesday in Minsk by his counterpart, Viktor Khrenin.
The visit coincides with increased calls from Poland and the Baltic region to tighten border security, citing the presence of Russian mercenaries that have decamped to Belarus as well as Minsk’s renewed attempts to provoke tensions by sending migrants to the frontier.

A Polish official said Warsaw hopes the risk of disrupting trade with the EU will deter China from stirring up tensions over the border.
The border to Belarus is the passage point between a main freight line for goods flowing between China and the EU. Still, the official said the visit is a sign that China is no longer in the background with respect to the Ukraine war.