China has largely maintained an indirect role in the Ukraine conflict, primarily through military support for Russia. However, Beijing now appears focused on extracting valuable military lessons from the ongoing war.
Understanding Ukrainian Strategies
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), China is reportedly observing Belarusian military exercises to analyze Russia’s strategies in Ukraine and develop its own tactical insights.
In recent statements, Vadim Denisenko, Major General of the Belarusian Special Operations Forces, confirmed that over the past several months, Chinese, Uzbek, and Kazakh military representatives have joined drills in Belarus.
The exercises, Denisenko indicated, were especially relevant to China’s interest in understanding battlefield strategies in the Ukraine war, according to Digi24.
Key areas of focus included the use of drones, effective trench-clearing methods, and tactics for taking fortified buildings — techniques Belarusian forces reportedly refined through their collaboration with Russian troops in Ukraine.
Serves a Broader Chinese Strategy
This development takes place against a backdrop of other nations’ involvement in supporting or analyzing the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Recently, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte shared that South Korean intelligence had provided evidence to NATO officials, showing North Korean military units operating in Russia’s Kursk region.
This involvement signals a broader network of support and information-sharing among Russia’s allies.
For China, the decision to study the tactics employed in Ukraine through Belarusian exercises aligns with its interest in analyzing large-scale military operations and gauging modern warfare trends.
Observing the conflict could serve China’s broader strategy, as military leaders examine how Russian tactics have unfolded and assess their effectiveness against Ukraine’s defenses, backed by Western support.
China’s approach could inform its own defensive and strategic planning, as it seeks to adapt and prepare for potential conflicts.
