Beijing shows off its military prowess

Xi seen with Putin, Kim at WWII parade

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russia's Vladimir Putin flanked Xi Jinping at a massive parade of military might in Beijing yesterday, capping a week of diplomatic grandstanding by the Chinese president and his allies against the West.

In unprecedented scenes, Mr Xi shook both their hands and chatted with the pair as they walked down a red carpet by Tiananmen Square, with Mr Putin to Mr Xi’s right and Mr Kim to his left.

The event, ostensibly to mark 80 years since the end of World War II, was a chance for Mr Xi to put on an extravaganza to showcase China's military prowess and bring together friendly leaders to send a message to the rest of the world.

Kicking off the parade, President Xi warned the world was still “faced with a choice of peace or war’, but said China was “unstoppable”.