Mr Xi, dressed in a slate grey “Mao” suit and accompanied by his predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, said China would pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up. Mr Xi, whose military modernisation programme has rattled nerves around the region, then inspected row upon row of military hardware and immaculately presented troops. At one stage Mr Xi, riding past troops in a black, open-roofed limousine, shouted: “Hello comrades, hard-working comrades!” The massed ranks bellowed back: “Follow the Party! Forge exemplary conduct!”Returning to the stage, Mr Xi watched as lines of tanks, drones and missiles filed past. But he faces mounting challenges, notably in Hong Kong, which has been rocked by protests demanding greater democracy.

Source: The Irish Times October 01, 2019 09:00 UTC