BEIJING (AP) — China showcased its military might in a parade Wednesday marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II as it seeks to wield greater influence on the global stage.

Leader Xi Jinping, speaking before the parade , paid tribute to Chinese veterans of the war. Since coming to power in 2012, he has sought to build China into a country that cannot be bullied and is strong enough to stand up to foreign powers.

“The Chinese people are ... not afraid of violence and are self-reliant and strong,” he said.

The Chinese military showed off aerial and underwater drones, hypersonic missiles and fighter jets and bombers in a 90-minute event attended by the leaders of about two dozen countries , including Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un . China's

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