<p>London: British defence minister Grant Shapps said on Sunday he was very concerned about a recent strengthening of diplomatic relations between China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, saying it posed a threat to democracy.</p><p>"I'm extremely concerned about this because, remember, these are two countries that do not believe in democracy," Shapps told Sky News.</p><p>"If you have that situation, and they are trying to spread their system to the rest of the world, we must see and have our eyes wide open that that is a direct threat to our way of life," he said.</p><p>On Thursday, the Russian and Chinese leaders pledged a 'new era' of partnership between the two most powerful rivals of the United States.</p>
<p>London: British defence minister Grant Shapps said on Sunday he was very concerned about a recent strengthening of diplomatic relations between China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, saying it posed a threat to democracy.</p><p>"I'm extremely concerned about this because, remember, these are two countries that do not believe in democracy," Shapps told Sky News.</p><p>"If you have that situation, and they are trying to spread their system to the rest of the world, we must see and have our eyes wide open that that is a direct threat to our way of life," he said.</p><p>On Thursday, the Russian and Chinese leaders pledged a 'new era' of partnership between the two most powerful rivals of the United States.</p>