China hosted two high-profile events: the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin and a grand military parade in Beijing marking WWII’s 80th anniversary. Attendees included leaders from Russia, India, Iran, and observer nations, signaling deepening diplomatic ties within Asia. At the parade, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un appeared alongside Xi and Putin—his first meeting with Xi in six years. The display underlined China’s desire to assert influence through strategic partnerships, projecting strength in the face of escalating Western tension.
