The Global Story - Xi’s axis of frenemies
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President Xi Jinping said humanity faces "a choice between peace and war” as China paraded a huge arsenal of weapons – including nuclear missiles – in Beijing yesterday.
Xi's military parade, watched over by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, seemed a provocation to the west – most notably, Donald Trump – and a signal of his will to redraw the world order, lessening China’s reliance on the US.
In today's episode, the BBC's Celia Hatton considers: how long will China's friendships last with world leaders who have for years been its rivals?
Producers: Hannah Moore and Lucy Pawle
Executive Producer: James Shield
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior News Editor: China Collins
Image: Xi Jingping at a WW2 anniversary reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Florence Lo/Reuters
Published on Thursday, 4th September 2025.
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