Russia and China are direct threat - British Defense Secretary

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps (photo: Getty Images)

Russia and China are a direct threat to democratic principles. Britain is concerned about the close relationship between Moscow and Beijing, states British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps.

He noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin “literally murders his opponents” and Chinese leader Xi Jinping “does not share our values of freedom and democracy.”

“So, if we have this situation and they (Putin and Xi Jinping - ed.) are trying to spread their system to the rest of the world, we must see and have our eyes wide open that that is a direct threat to our way of life,” Shapps said.

The UK Defense Secretary recalled Russia's ties with Iran and North Korea as a similar risk.

“This is not good for those of us who love democracy,” he said.

China and its attitude to the war

Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, China has been declaring its supposedly neutral position. Beijing proposed its own “peace plan,” but it was criticized by Ukraine.

In fact, China has not provided the Russian army with weapons to wage war against Ukraine. However, Chinese companies are supplying Russia with dual-use goods that, among other things, can be used to produce weapons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants China to join the peace summit because it has influence over Russia.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin recently visited China and met with Xi Jinping. It was Putin's first visit since his so-called “inauguration.”