President Xi Jinping of China and Russia's Vladimir Putin doubled down on their alliance against the West this week during the Kremlin leader's visit to Beijing.

The Chinese leader says a "peaceful reunification," rather than one through military force, would benefit both China and Taiwan. Tensions between the two are the highest in decades.

In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly, the president once again sought to blame China for the COVID-19 pandemic and called on Beijing to be punished for its handling of the disease.