During a meeting in Beijing, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu emphasized the need for Russia and China to counter US attempts to limit their influence. This comes amid rising tensions as US President Donald Trump threatens high tariffs on Chinese exports. Shoigu stated the collaboration between Moscow and Beijing plays a stabilizing role globally, particularly as North Korea secures a historic defense agreement with Russia. Despite Western suspicions over China’s relationship with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict, China continues to call for peace talks and respect for territorial integrity.