Indonesia’s Prabowo attends China’s military parade as protests rage at home

Despite a deadly anti-government protest raging across his country, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stood overlooking Beijing’s Tiananmen Square watching China’s grand military parade with a group of world leaders.

His one-day trip was appreciated by Beijing, with the Chinese foreign ministry saying it “welcomed” the visit.

Earlier this week, when Prabowo decided to skip the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the ministry said it “respected” Jakarta’s decision.

Prabowo joined other world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the Victory Day military show to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

He is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later on Wednesday and will return to his country the same day, according to Indonesian State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi.

It is unclear whether he will meet other leaders, including those from Southeast Asia, such as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s junta leader.

Xi Jinping greets WWII veterans with Putin and Kim

Xi Jinping greets WWII veterans with Putin and Kim