China, Russia, Ramp Up Military Drills Amid 'Olympic Truce'

China and Russia are ramping up military drills amid an "Olympic truce." In three major sea regions, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted simultaneous exercises, according to the Global Times. Experts said on Thursday that it showed the Chinese military's combat preparedness. Russia is also conducting military drills, sending thousands of troops to Belarus with convoys of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems, the Associated Press reported.

The Russian training exercises with Belarus are reportedly aimed at "repelling external aggression," the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to meet with European and NATOleaders on Friday to discuss Russia's increased presence near Ukraine, a person familiar with the plans said. China's exercises came after the U.S. and Japan had exercises between February 3 and 7 near the island of Taiwan as the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics began, the Global Times reported.

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