The world according to Xi Jinping will be on display in Beijing next week, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin as the guests of honor. The two will attend a military parade on Wednesday celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The event has been deliberately snubbed by Western leaders, who refuse to share a stage with Putin. Their absence allows President Xi to project an image of China as the leader of a powerful bloc of nations independent of the West.
For Kim Jong Un, this is his first trip to China since 2019, a crucial mission to pay his respects to his country’s primary supporter. The visit is essential for securing the continued economic assistance that North Korea needs.
The gathering is a carefully managed piece of political theater, designed to showcase a new center of global power. The image of the three leaders together is a message of unity and a direct challenge to U.S. dominance.