Indonesian President Attends China WWII V-Day Parade Amid Deadly Protests

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attended a military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, after initially cancelling his trip due to deadly domestic protests in Indonesia. The protests, triggered by the death of a young delivery rider and lavish perks given to lawmakers, resulted in at least six deaths and widespread unrest. Following the demonstrations, Prabowo revoked some incentives and monitored the situation closely before departing for China. The parade, held in Tiananmen Square, was attended by 26 foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and featured a display of China's advanced military technology. Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the event, which showcased new military systems such as hypersonic missiles and directed-energy weapons. Despite the domestic turmoil, Prabowo's participation highlighted Indonesia's diplomatic engagement in the region.