Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stood publicly shoulder to shoulder for the first time on Wednesday, ahead of a massive military parade in central Beijing.

The parade, marking 80 years since China's victory over Japan in World War Two, saw Beijing unveil a range of new military hardware, including a new nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile, a new road-bound missile for delivering hypersonic weapons, a new laser weapon, and even robotic dog drones.

It comes at a time when Xi seeks to project Beijing's power on the international stage—not just as the world's second-largest economy, but also as a counterweight to the United States as Trump's tariffs rock the global economic and political order.

Four BBC correspondents assess the significance of the parade, examining its implications and what it signals about the emerging new world order.

An enduring image for China—and the world

One of the most enduring images of this military parade took place before the first cannon was fired. President Xi welcoming North Korea's Kim Jong Un with a long handshake, then moving on to greet Russia's Vladimir Putin before all three walked together to watch the parade, was sheer political theatre.

This was the first time all three leaders have been seen in public together, and they really picked their moment. But it is this meeting, not just the hardware on display, that seems to have grabbed the attention of Donald Trump, who accused Xi of conspiring against America.

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The parade marked the 80th anniversary of the formal surrender of the Japanese at the end of World War Two.

Wednesday's parade was a spectacle of precision, power, and patriotism. Troops goose-stepped past in unison, with a crowd reaching for their phones as new weapons were showcased. This display was not only a reflection of China's military capabilities but also an assertion of Xi's role as a global leader ready to challenge U.S. dominance.

In conclusion, as the Kremlin and Beijing align more closely, the shifting geopolitical landscape hints at a world where U.S. influence continues to decline, and China's aspirations take center stage.