China’s leader Xi Jinping has executed a sweeping diplomatic offensive—featuring high-profile summits, a rare visit to Tibet, and a grand military parade flanked by world leaders—that underscores his unassailable grip on power and shifts the narrative in his favour.
At a Glance
- Xi presided over a major military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un present.
- He cemented his image with a summit with Indian PM Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting and a symbolic trip to Tibet.
- These orchestrated events signal his control over elite politics while diverting public attention from China’s slowing economy.
- Analysts interpret the strategy as Xi bolstering nationalism and projecting reliability to Global South nations amid growing skepticism of U.S. policy.
Leadership Through Spectacle
Xi’s latest appearances signal a deliberate campaign to reinforce his dominance. At the Tiananmen military parade, he was spurred on by the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—an unmistakable demonstration of geopolitical heft. His clothing choice—an austerely styled grey Mao-style suit—further bolstered an image of dignified statesmanship.
Watch now: China’s Xi hosts Putin, North Korea’s Kim in challenge to West…
This display comes on the heels of his summit with India’s Narendra Modi and his previously rare visit to Tibet, all timed to fortify his public persona. Taken together, this “triumphant diplomacy” reasserts Xi’s authority within the Communist Party and across the international stage.
A Strategic Distraction
Xi’s orchestrated diplomatic crescendo arrives amid a weakening Chinese economy—marked by rising unemployment, cooling housing prices, and sluggish wage growth. Analysts, including Neil Thomas from the Asia Society, note the shift from an economic legitimacy model toward nationalism to garner domestic support. He describes Xi’s approach as a way “to divert attention from economic challenges and to make his citizens proud to be Chinese.”
Moreover, U.S. tensions—primarily through Trump’s aggressive tariffs and global posture—provide China an opening to present itself as a stable, forward-looking partner to many countries in the developing world.
Reconfiguring Global Dynamics
Beijing’s overtures to emerging economies are part of a broader narrative positioning China as a dependable alternative to Western influence. Analysts from institutions like the China-Global South Project argue that Xi’s message resonates especially with middle powers and nations with youthful populations seeking employment and development opportunities.
Yet experts caution that longstanding tensions—over territorial disputes, industrial policies, and historical mistrust—may curb deeper shifts toward a China-led global order. Even India’s dramatic hand-in-hand gesture between Modi and Putin is seen as symbolic rather than transformative.
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