Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, graced a grand military parade in Beijing, in a gesture seen as a collective stance against the Western nations. This event accentuated a week full of diplomatic maneuvers by Xi and his allies, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The parade was notable for the rare sight of Xi shaking hands and chatting with both leaders, suggesting a strong alliance. No major Western leaders were present. Alongside Kim and Putin, attendees included the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing.
In his opening speech, Xi proclaimed China’s unstoppable progress and called for the eradication of war’s roots to prevent history’s repetition. He emphasized the global choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, advocating for win-win outcomes.
China framed the event as a symbol of unity with other nations, with Kim’s attendance marking his first public meeting with Xi and Putin. Kim’s rare international trips underscore the significance of the occasion.
US President Donald Trump responded on social media, extending regards to Putin and Kim as they “conspire against the United States.”
The parade concluded a busy week for Xi, who previously hosted a summit to establish China as a central figure in regional relations. The summit, part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, promotes a non-Western collaboration style and positions itself as an alternative to traditional alliances. During the summit, Xi criticized “bullying behavior” from certain nations, while Putin defended Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Many leaders from the summit, including Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, joined Xi for the parade. Kim was accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, according to images from North Korean state news.
Although officials kept the parade’s military hardware list confidential, defense experts have been analyzing social media photos and footage from rehearsals, identifying anti-ship missiles, advanced underwater drones, and anti-missile systems among the displays.
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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/03/china-military-parade-xi-jinping-appears-with-vladimir-putin-kim-jong-un
