Leaders of Russia, Iran and North Korea will be at event marking 80 years since defeat of Japan in second world war
Why are Putin and Kim at China’s Victory Day parade?
Leaders from countries united in their opposition to the west will gather in Beijing this week in a show of support for China’s president, Xi Jinping, at a second world war commemoration parade designed to show off China’s military strength and geopolitical might.
Described by western analysts as “the axis of upheaval”, the military, economic and political collaboration between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea has been on display on the battlefield in Ukraine and in the Middle East this year.
But on Wednesday it will be Beijing that takes centre stage as the world’s second-largest economy and rising superpower presents itself as an alternative to a western-led global order.
