Beijing (AFP) – Xi Jinping, the leader of China, stood between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, concluding a week full of displays by the Chinese president and his allies in diplomatic opposition to the West.

In unprecedented scenes, Xi shook hands with both leaders and spoke to them as they walked together on the red carpet at Tiananmen Square, where Putin walked to Xi’s right and Kim to his left.

The ceremony, officially held to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, was an opportunity for Xi to showcase China’s military strength and gather leaders with friendly ties in hopes of sending a message to the rest of the world.

At the start of the parade, Xi warned that the world still “faces a choice between peace and war,” but emphasized that China “cannot be stopped.”

The new intercontinental ballistic missile “DF-5C,” with a range of 20,000 kilometers, was among the Chinese equipment displayed.

The event, meticulously planned down to every detail, was met with a sarcastic reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused the three leaders of conspiring against the United States.

He wrote on his platform “Truth Social,” “Please send my best regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un while you conspire against the United States.”

When asked about Trump’s comment, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov told Russian state television that Trump’s statement was, in his view, “just mockery.”

Military Equipment Display

During the 90-minute parade, Xi inspected the assembled troops and weapons from the sunroof of a limousine on Chang’an Street in Beijing before joining his guests seated under a massive portrait of Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Square, at the entrance to the Forbidden City, a historic landmark of the capital.

A large Chinese formation of military vehicles and heavy weapons passed in front of the leaders while official media broadcast thousands of soldiers, men and women, in formal uniforms marching in tight ranks, with others jumping on and off vehicles on site.

Alongside intercontinental ballistic missiles, the displayed weapons included new underwater drones and hypersonic missiles.

Residents of Beijing took to the streets hoping to glimpse dozens of fighter jets and helicopters flying in the sky to form the number “80.”

Millions of Chinese were killed in the prolonged conflict with the Japanese Empire in the 1930s and 1940s, which became part of World War II after Tokyo’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Eventful Week

All eyes were on the interaction between the trio Xi, Putin, and Kim, who rarely leaves North Korea, but official media broadcasts showed only rare footage of the three together while journalists were asked to keep their distance and not photograph the leaders.

The event was the climax of a busy week for Xi, who hosted a group of Eurasian leaders at a summit aimed at placing China at the forefront of regional relations.

The club of ten countries forming the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization” describes itself as a regional cooperation away from Western style, seeking to be an alternative to traditional alliances.

During the summit, Xi condemned “bullying” by some countries, implicitly referring to the United States, while Putin defended the Russian invasion of Ukraine, blaming the West for the outbreak of war.

Many guests at the Tianjin summit, including Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and several other leaders, joined Xi to attend the Beijing parade.

However, no prominent Western figures were among the twenty world leaders who attended the occasion.

Political Influence

Security measures were tightened around Beijing with roads closed and soldiers deployed on bridges and streets, while barriers were set up along the wide avenues of the capital.

China marketed the parade as a display of unity, and it was the first time Kim was seen at this event with Xi and Putin, marking his second announced trip abroad in six years.

Kim was accompanied on the trip by his daughter Kim Ju-ae, who was photographed arriving at Beijing train station, and his sister Kim Yo-jong, who was photographed by AFP during Wednesday’s lunch.

Putin and Kim held talks after the military parade, during which the Russian president thanked Kim for sending North Korean soldiers to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

Lam Peng Er, a researcher at the East Asia Institute of the National University of Singapore, said Kim’s visit “shows North Koreans and the world that he has strong Russian and Chinese friends who treat him with respect.”

He added, “China also shows it has the political influence and ability to bring together Putin and Kim Jong-un.”