China victory day parade live: Trump accuses Xi, Putin and Kim of ‘conspiring’ against US as new weapons unveiled – UK Times

The world leaders attending China’s Victory Day parade posed for a group photograph with Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

Either side of them stand Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, who also enjoyed pride of place on the podium observing the parade.

Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subianto completes the front row.

While leaders from most Western and developed economies stayed away from today’s parade, the number of representatives present shows China’s ability to muster support for its vision of a world order no longer dominated by the United States – what analysts have dubbed the Axis of Upheaval.

China displayed an upgraded version of its liquid-fueled intercontinental strategic nuclear missile – named the Dong Feng-5C – at today’s Victory Day parade, part of a plethora of domestically-produced military hardware.

The missile now has an estimated range of more than 20,000km and features improvements in defence penetration and precision, the state-run Global Times reported.

The DF-5C intercontinental strategic nuclear missile has the entire globe under its strike range, it added.

“The DF-5C liquid-fueled intercontinental strategic nuclear missile integrated technologies and experiences throughout the development of China’s previous DF series missiles, including technological advantages of the DF-5 series and DF-41 missiles. It provides significant strategic values,” missile technology and nuclear disarmament expert Professor Yang Chengjun told state media.

Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin were not the only world leaders in attendance at today’s parade, though they were given the most prominent places alongside Xi Jinping.

Leaders from about two dozen countries joined Chinese President Xi Jinping to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a military parade in the Chinese capital on Wednesday, in a show of solidarity among nations friendly to Beijing.

While leaders from the US, Western Europe, Japan, South Korea and India skipped the event, Xi showed Beijing’s growing influence in the Global South and other emerging economies with his guest list.

Here’s a glance at Xi’s guests:

Joining Putin and Kim included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, all considered US adversaries.

Russia’s close ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko walked next to Kim after taking group pictures with other leaders.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who initially canceled his trip to China due to protests at home, made it to Beijing and took part in the event with his counterparts in Southeast Asia, such as Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing was there too.

Other leaders from South and Central Asia also attended, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kazakhstan president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa was also on the guest list.

The only European leaders attending the parade were Serbia’s Russia-friendly President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico.

But former Romanian prime ministers Adrian Năstase and Viorica Dăncilă also joined in the group picture with current leaders.

The Chinese military parade lasted about 90 minutes and showcased missiles, fighter jets and other military hardware — some of it displayed publicly for the first time.

China displayed a plethora of domestically-produced hypersonic missiles, new generation of nuclear triad, long-range missiles, anti-drone systems, strategic bombers and stealth drones.

Helicopters trailing large banners and fighter jets flew in formation above during the showcase thick with symbolism and propaganda which culminated in the release of 80,000 peace doves and colourful balloons.

President Xi Jinping, during his speech, warned that the world is facing a choice between peace or war as he held his country’s largest-ever military parade on Wednesday, flanked by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

He appeared to make a veiled attack at US president Donald Trump and the Nato alliance as Xi called on nations to prevent historical tragedies from recurring.

The Chinese leader displayed an impressive amount of military hardware, ranging from nuclear-capable ballistic missiles to fighter jets, as he positions himself as the biggest leader in the East to counter Mr Trump’s aggressive trade and geopolitical policies.

“Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum,” Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators at Tiananmen Square, adding that the Chinese people “firmly stand on the right side of history”.

“We will remain committed to the path of peaceful development. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has been and will always be the heroic armed forces that the people can trust and rely on.”

He added: “The Chinese nation is never intimidated by any bullies and always forges ahead.”

Xi has cast World War Two as a major turning point in the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”, in which it overcame the humiliation of Japan’s invasion to become an economic and geopolitical powerhouse.

Chinese president Xi Jinping and world leaders have begun leaving the gallery as the country’s largest-ever military parade concludes.

The parade ended with 80,000 doves being released into the sky.

President Xi Jinping is seen chatting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un as a ballistic missile formation passes during the parade.