With diplomatic tour de force, Xi Jinping shows he's 'totally in charge'

When Chinese leader Xi Jinping organised his first parade to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II, in 2015, he placed his two predecessors by his side in a show of respect and continuity of leadership.

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BEIJING - When Chinese leader Xi Jinping organised his first parade to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II, in 2015, he placed his two predecessors by his side in a show of respect and continuity of leadership.

Ten years on and having eliminated domestic opposition as he serves an unprecedented third term as president, Mr Xi was flanked on Sept 3 at the 80th anniversary parade by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Communist Party of China leaders were interspersed among overseas guests.

The parade followed Mr Xi's high-profile summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a weekend meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin, and the Chinese leader's rare visit to Tibet in August.

This display of diplomatic clout, stamina and geopolitical ambition has helped quell concerns among some China observers about the 72-year-old Chinese President's vitality, linked to sporadic absences, and — so far — unknown succession plans.

It has also helped divert domestic attention from slowing growth, experts say.

Longevity was on the leaders' minds as they walked up to the rostrum at Beijing's Tiananmen Square — Mr Xi and Mr Putin were caught in a hot mic moment discussing organ transplants and the possibility that humans could live to 150 years old.

"This week of triumphant diplomacy for Xi shows that he remains totally in charge of the elite politics of the Communist Party," said Mr Neil Thomas of the Asia Society, a New York-based think-tank.