Chinese leader Xi Jinping oversaw a massive military spectacle on Wednesday, delivering a stark warning that the world is facing a choice of war or peace, as his country marked 80 years since Japan’s defeat in World War II with thousands of troops and advanced weaponry parading through the heart of Beijing.
For Xi — who was flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un during a short walk to the ceremonies — the moment was rich in symbolism, showcasing his willingness to more openly redefine the postwar U.S.-led global order.
“In the past, when faced with critical struggles between good and evil, light and darkness, progress and reaction, the Chinese people rallied together to defy the enemy,” Xi said in a speech before the parade. “They fought for the survival of the country, for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and for justice for the whole of humanity.
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