Kim Jong Un, Putin Join Xi at Beijing Military Parade
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attending a military parade in central Beijing alongside Russian president Vladimir Putin and China’s leader Xi Jinping is not just a striking image — it is also a diplomatic triumph for Xi. For years, the Chinese leader has been positioning Beijing not only as the world’s second-largest economy but also as a global diplomatic heavyweight. By welcoming both Kim and Putin, Xi is reinforcing China’s influence in international affairs while signalling that he may hold the geopolitical cards in ongoing global negotiations. The parade, set for 3 September, marks 80 years since Japan’s surrender in World War Two, ending its occupation of parts of China. But beyond military display, Xi has turned it into a showcase of his political clout. With Trump considering a regional visit later in October and leaving the door open […]
