China's Xi projects power at military parade with Putin and Kim

Chinese President Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the world was facing a choice between peace or war at a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, flanked by Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un in an unprecedented show of force.

The event to mark 80 years since Japan's defeat at the end of World War Two was largely shunned by Western leaders, with Putin and Kim - pariahs in the West due to the Ukraine war and Kim's nuclear ambitions - the guests of honour.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump urged his Chinese counterpart to acknowledge the US’s contributions to ensuring China's freedom, accusing Beijing of conspiring against it.

"Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America," Trump posted on Truth Social.

This comes as the trade truce between Washington and Beijing has been extended until mid-November, with hopes that a possible in-person meeting between Trump and Xi will ease tensions between the two countries.