Chinese forces will be deployed in Belarus over the next ten days, for counter-terrorism exercises. This is a key element in the SCO counter-terrorism cooperation mechanism. The exercises will be held in Brest, which is 40 miles from the Polish border. The deployment of Chinese troops in Belarus, which is not engaged in the Ukraine conflict, will not go unnoticed. NATO authorities consider China to be an “ally” of Russia in the conflict. While China has no interest or intention of entering into the Ukraine theater, except as a peacemaker, deploying troops in Belarus, in accordance with SCO guidelines, is an unmistakable signal that they are also not interested in seeing any expansion of this conflict in Europe.