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, which marked 80 years since China's victory over Japan in World War Two, saw Beijing unveiling 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.
This 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.
Five BBC correspondents assess the significance of Wednesday's parade – what it means, why it matters, and what the spectacle tells us about the 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 weapons and troops on show, that appears to have grabbed the attention of Donald Trump.
Trump posted on Truth Social earlier, accusing Xi of conspiring against America with the others. The Chinese leader stated in his speech that his country is on the right side of history.
Trump's out, Xi's in - and what that means for the West
China's show of geopolitical and military power this week will hardly surprise Western leaders. President Xi has long sought to put himself at the centre of a new world order – one that replaces the crumbling global systems established after World War Two.
But two aspects will send shivers down western diplomatic spines. First, it's the speed with which China is filling the vacuum left by America's withdrawal from global norms. Second, a Chinese-led world order, where territorial integrity is valued less than raw power, may prove uncomfortable for many western countries.
A clear message to Donald Trump
The diplomatic optics in China this week were designed to send a clear message to the Trump administration: well, if you want to make America great again, then here’s an alternative to the US-led order.
The weapons that worry the West
From massive, underwater torpedoes to state-of-the-art laser weapons, China's military parade will be scrutinized by defense officials worldwide. The extensive modernization of the PLA positions it as a potential rival to the United States in several military aspects, especially with hypersonic technologies.
