China and Russia Strengthen Military Ties in Asia-Pacific

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu's visit to Russia highlights the need for the two countries to deepen their military trust and coordination amid worsening geopolitical tensions and the imperative to maintain the global strategic balance. The visit follows the intensive one-on-one talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow in March. The US' imposition of export controls on a dozen Chinese companies for "supporting Russia's military and defense industries" has led to defiant responses from China and Russia. The two countries are also cooperating on creating an early missile warning system that could create their own global missile defense network.