Australian intelligence agency warns against expanding China-Russia partnership – Firstpost

Australia’s head of national intelligence has said the “emerging axis” of countries backing Russia, including China, Iran and North Korea, is a “deeply troubling strategic development” that Western countries are struggling to catch up with.

Director General of the Office of National Intelligence Andrew Shearer said on Wednesday that the strategic influence of the new axis centered on China and Russia had been underestimated.

“China’s massive provision of dual-use aid to Putin, as well as economic support and diplomatic support, is keeping Putin’s army on the ground in Ukraine, killing innocent Ukrainians as surely as if they were supplying artillery ammunition and missiles,” Shearer said at the Raisina Downunder conference in Canberra.

He also listed Russia’s supply of Iranian drones, North Korean missiles and combat units. South Korea and the United States say about 10,000 North Korean troops have arrived in Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

“It’s a very worrying strategic development and we’re all trying to catch up and take effective action, but I think it’s one of the strategic challenges of our time,” Shearer said.

Australia is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership, along with the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. Shearer is the chief intelligence adviser to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)