As NATO leaders gathered in Washington for a landmark summit and issued “irreversible” support for Ukraine and deep criticism of Beijing for its support of Russia, China was holding maneuvers with Belarusian troops on the alliance’s eastern edge. The 11-day joint military exercises named Eagle Assault 2024 kicked off on July 8 — the eve of the NATO summit — and are under way near the Belarusian city of Brest, some 5 kilometers from the Polish border.The first of their kind between China and Belarus, the drills reflect growing defense ties between…