The show must go on
In a twist that no one saw coming (or yes, we all saw it coming), the three musketeers of alternative geopolitics, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, met in Beijing for what was basically the real version of a game of Risk. The reason: to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a historic event that is, of course, best celebrated with missiles and fighter jets. Because nothing says “never again” like a display of military might that would make a Hollywood blockbuster blush.
The Chinese leader, in a speech that oscillated between a history lesson and a veiled threat, presented humanity with an existential dilemma: peace or war, dialogue or confrontation. A deeply philosophical choice, without a doubt, especially coming from someone who minutes later would review a parade of weapons capable of turning the planet into a parking lot. Irony, like the troops, marched in unison.
Protocol, limousines and impeccable choreography
The show began with the elegance that only a totalitarian state can afford. Xi Jinping rode down Chang’an Avenue in a black limousine with more stardom than a rock star, emerging through a hatch in the roof as if he were going to sing a hit from the 80s. Four microphones were waiting for him, because just one is not enough to proclaim the greatness of the Party. The troops, trained to disguise any hint of personality, shouted slogans such as “We serve the people” with a synchronization that made the most professional choirs envious.
The dramatic touch could not be missed: 80 cannon shots to mark the years that have passed. Because, let’s be honest, 79 shots would have been cheesy and 81 would have been directly excessive. The national anthem, composed in the resistance against Japan, played loudly, reminding everyone that neighbors were never welcome. Then, the trio of aces went up to the platform of the Tiananmen Gate, a place with as much history as it is controversial, where they shook hands on a red carpet as long as the list of international sanctions that weigh on them.
The most photogenic (and surreal) moment came when they stopped to greet five centenarian veterans of the war. One can only imagine what those elders thought when they saw this particular group of leaders, one who annexes territories, another who tests ballistic missiles as if they were fireworks, and a third who presides over the country that has grown the most in influence (and debt). The story, of course, has a peculiar sense of humor.
It’s not a show of strength, it’s… well, yes it is
China insisted that all this was a commemorative act, an exercise in historical memory. Sure, and the Roman Colosseum was just a place to exercise. The reality is that the military parade was a full-blown show of force, designed to send a clear message to the world, and especially to the United States: “Hey, look what we’ve got.” Missiles, stealth planes, tanks… all released for the occasion, as if it were the launch of a new season of weapons.
The crowds of spectators, conveniently located in delimited sections (because spontaneism is not welcome), waved red flags to the rhythm of patriotic songs that proclaimed, among other niceties, that there is no new China without the Communist Party. Originality, of course, is conspicuous by its absence in the nomenclature of the hymns.
Internally, the event sought to reinforce support for the Communist Party and its supreme leader, Xi, presenting him as the architect of the new China. A China that is no longer content with being the world’s workshop, but rather aspires to write the rules of the global game. And what better way to demonstrate it than by inviting two of the most controversial leaders on the planet to your private party.
The final wink, of course, was the presence of Putin and Kim, two figures who in any normal international meeting would provoke more avoidance than a handshake. But here, in Beijing, they were the guests of honor. Because when it comes to challenging the world order, family (geopolitics) comes first.
The final result? A perfect day to ride in a limousine, greet veterans, debut new toys and remind the world that, on the global board, there are new (and old) players willing to dance to their own music. And if the music sounds like cannon shots, so much the better.
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