The eleventh China steals the spotlight in a challenging batch against the United States -led global order

When the cannon fire echoed through the Tiananmen Square, even before the first group of the forces, a bouzah on its way through the Beijing Central Street, which revealed the image of the permanent day.

Chinese President Xi Jin Ping Kim Jong Un welcomed a long handshake, then moved to the greeting of Vladimir Putin Russia, then he walked to his seat, surrounded by two of the world’s most punitive leaders in the world.

It was the huge political theater. This meeting – instead of weapons – was the one who angered US President Donald Trump.

When the show began, Trump sent a sharp message about the social truth, accusing the three leaders of conspiracy against America.

Perhaps this was the reactions that the President was hoping that Putin will remain on his right and Kim on his left all over the show. This moment may be designed to anger an American president, it may prefer to be the center of the world’s attention.

The Chinese leader stole the spotlight, as he used it to show his strength and influence an alliance led by East-a challenging group designed to retreat against the United States-led global system.

It is a strong message from the eleventh because the world emerges from the inability to predict the presidency of Trump. Besides Kim and Putin, there were more than 20 other foreign heads of state. Earlier this week, Xi seemed to reset his troubled relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Trump tax ran 50 % on Indian imports has long melted ice between competitors.

The scene was supposed to be Wednesday about the celebration of a 80 -year -old victory over Japan. But it was actually about the place where China is heading – directly to the top, with Xi playing the role of a global leader.

At his feet, an army was built to compete with the West.

This was the first time that Shi, Putin and Kim watched together – and climbed together to the top of the heavenly peace gate overlooking the historical scene to watch the show.

It was difficult to miss symbolism. The founder of the Communist China Mao Zaidong announced the establishment of the Republic there in 1949 – after 10 years, the place where Kim and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev hosted, to see a military procession.

That was the last time the leaders of the three countries were together. The height of the Cold War was, China was isolated from most of the world, as was North Korea, and the Soviet Union was the strongest and richest among them.

Now, China is the one that has the reins in this relationship. North Korea, nuclear, but poor, needs to help Beijing. Putin needs the legitimacy that something presented to him.

In the past, Shi seemed to keep the distance of Putin and Kim, and maintains a defensive position publicly on the war in Ukraine. He did not condemn this, but he denied that China was helping Russia.

He even seemed to be on the sidelines as Russia and North Korea approached recently. Kim was sending forces to support Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in exchange for money and technology.

But it seems that he is now standing next to his neighbors, even as they continue to attack Kyiv.

“Today, humanity today is facing the choice of peace, war, dialogue, confrontation, winning or zero,” Mr. Xi told the newspaper watching the crowd, along with the millions that were attached to covering the show on the state TV throughout the country.

He announced that China is “a great nation that does not frighten any intimidation.”

The military parade, which followed, was about to show it – it was an offer of power, accuracy and patriotism.

It started with a 80 -time gun to celebrate 80 years of China’s victory over Japan in World War II, which ended a brutal occupation. The sound was reverted to each of the pillars of the square, where 50,000 spectators, some of whom sat in the war, sat in silence.

The choir was followed, every member appears exactly apart as the cameras were above it. They sang in complete harmony: “Without the Communist Party, there is no modern China.” Every verse was interspersed with a high grip.

President Xi led the show along the show to inspect his forces before every battle unit turned to the step of Oza through its leader. Every joint blow to the airport runway echo through the stands.

The quiet tanks came first in the display of new China’s weapons. But they seemed old compared to what followed. A new missile capable of nuclear can be launched from the sea, lands and air, and anti -ship missiles and laser weapons to defense against drone attacks. There were new underwater drones and drones that could spy on targets.

The United States may still have an advantage, sharpened over the years, and by participating in conflicts around the world, but there is no doubt that China is building an army for a competitor.

On Wednesday, the offer of power was a statement aimed at Washington and its allies, as well as the rest of the world – and even in Putin and Kim, who knew the importance of what they were looking at.

“The renewal of the great Chinese nation cannot be stopped,” Xi said in his speech in an attempt to enhance the nation’s pride.

It appears to be working on some people.

On a bridge overlooking the Tonghui River, the crowds gathered away by the main show to try to see military aircraft. Thirty -year -old Rong said he found the offer moving.

“Pride at this moment is the main thing we can do. We believe that we will restore Taiwan by 2035,” declared.

This is the rhetoric that many fear on the autonomous island of Taiwan, which China believes is a separate boycott that will one day be united with the motherland. She did not rule out the use of strength to achieve this goal. And the weapons it showed on Wednesday, many of which emphasized China’s naval capabilities, must worry the leaders of the Taiwanese.

It also worries many western countries, especially in Europe, which are still struggling with how to end the war in Ukraine. Many were absent from the offer.

Han Yonggang, 75, ignored that Western leaders have avoided the offer.

“It is up to them to come or not,” he said. “They envy China’s rapid development. Frankly, they are aggressive in the heart. We are completely committed to the common prosperity of humanity. We are different.”

This show was nourishing a wave of nationalism at a time when China is fighting serious local challenges: slow economy, real estate crisis, aging population, high youth unemployment and local governments in the depths of debt.

Be sure who is confident of the appearance of China on the world stage, President Xi must find a way to keep the prosperous middle class of anxiety about their future. It was believed that the economic rise in China was not stopped, but this is no longer the case.

So this show may be – with all the discourse about the old enemy, Japan – a welcome distraction.

After a long display of advanced weapons, including nuclear missiles, the show concluded with thousands of doves and balloons that were launched in the sky over Beijing.

The celebration – songs, marches, missiles, drones, and even “robot wolves” – was not about China’s struggle.

Instead, it was about the extent of China – and how to catch up with the United States and challenge it for excellence.