China military parade latest: Xi Jinping arrives with Putin and Kim Jong Un for start of major show of force

President Xi says the world is “facing a choice of peace or war”.

He adds: “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.”

Mr Xi calls on nations to prevent historical tragedies from recurring.

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

Chinese president Xi Jinping began his speech by welcoming the world leaders and expressing “sincere thanks to foreign governments, friends and comrades, who supported the Chinese people in resisting aggression”.

China has kicked off its largest-ever military parade, showcasing its growing firepower and geopolitical clout, as president Xi Jinping seeks to cast Beijing as the custodian of a post-US international order.

Flanked by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Mr Xi was shown on television strolling up a red carpet to take his seat for the lavish event at Tiananmen Square to mark 80 years since Japan’s defeat at the end of World War Two.

Wearing a suit in the style of those worn by former leader Mao Zedong, Mr Xi earlier greeted around two dozen largely non-western leaders in attendance, including Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto, who made a surprise appearance despite widespread protests at home.

The anticipated parade began with 80-gun salutes to commemorate 80 years of Japan’s defeat and the end of World War Two.

In the 1940s, the United States, China, and other allies pushed back Japan’s military expansion in Asia.

Eighty years later, the U.S. and Japan are allies confronting China – growing stronger and more assertive.

China is now the bully in the South China Sea for neighbours like Taiwan and the Philippines.

Chinese president Xi Jinping has arrived at Tiananmen Square along with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Upon arrival, Mr Xi shook hands with war veterans attending the victory day commemorations.

He was shown saying “Nice to meet you” and “Welcome to China” in English.

Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has focused on making China strong and resistant to foreign pressure, even forcing the US to scale back new tariffs this year.

In 2014, China declared September 3, the day after Japan formally surrendered, as Victory Day and the following year held its first military parade on that date.

Party historians see Japan’s defeat as a turning point that helped China recover and rebuild.

According to Wang Junwei, a historian at the Institute of Party History and Literature, the victory transformed the nation from deep crisis toward great rejuvenation.