Beijing parade: Xi Jinping’s display of power and ambition
Beijing is preparing for one of its most elaborate military parades in recent history, a carefully staged event that underscores President Xi Jinping’s ambition to project strength both at home and abroad. Eight giant Chinese flags now flank the portrait of Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Square, overlooking seating for 26 foreign leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Around 50,000 guests are expected as the Chinese capital transforms into a stage for political theatre and military might. The parade officially commemorates 80 years since Japan’s surrender in World War II. But for Xi, it is far more than a historical remembrance; it is a statement of power. This week has already marked several breakthroughs for the Chinese leader. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Beijing for the first time in seven years. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation […]
