China staged a grand military parade in Beijing on Wednesday (Sep 3) morning to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, blending martial spectacle with patriotic symbolism. An array of foreign leaders was present in a display of China’s convening power, notably Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as several Southeast Asian figures. Einar Tangen, senior fellow at Beijing-based think tank Taihe Institute and chairman of Asia Narratives,