Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has turned up at a Chinese military parade, smiling for photos just metres from Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un — two of the world’s most notorious strongmen.

Billed as marking the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, the Beijing event looked more like a “parade for dictators,” complete with missiles, drones, and a show of China’s military muscle. No major western leaders were there — just Andrews, in what he calls a “private” capacity.

Critics say it sends the wrong message, raising questions about why an ex-Australian leader would cosy up at an event celebrating regimes accused of war crimes and oppression.

So — is this just harmless travel, or a case of lending legitimacy to tyrants?