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... "Bottom line is that basically, if we were to have a conflict with one, the chances are we would have a second front," Lt Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said.

Moscow-Beijing ties have soared to new heights since the countries announced a "no limits" partnership shortly before Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Increased bilateral trade has helped buoy Russia's heavily sanctioned economy, while Russia has provided China with cheap oil and natural gas.

China maintains it is neutral regarding the Russia-Ukraine war but censors social media content critical of Moscow's war, which Beijing has neither condemned nor labeled an invasion.

"We see China and Russia, for the first time, exercising together in relation to Taiwan and recognizing that this is a place where China definitely wants Russia to be working with them, and we see no reason why they wouldn't," Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said on Thursday. ...