China has declared that the world now faces a stark choice between “peace or war” as it showcased most expansive military parade to date.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, flanked by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un in a spectacler event in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, was both a nationalist celebration and a clear message to the West.
Tiananmen Square became the stage for a carefully choreographed display of power. Fighter jets roared above, long convoys of armored vehicles rumbled across the wide boulevards, and soldiers in precise formation saluted Xi as he passed in an open-top car. At one point, the three leaders strolled side by side down a red carpet, chatting and smiling for cameras – an image analysts described as the clearest sign yet of a new axis defying US influence.
Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 that China “firmly stands on the right side of history” and would not be intimidated by what he described as bullies. His remarks, pointed but without direct reference, were widely read as a swipe at Washington and its allies.
The parade capped off a week of diplomatic theatre in China, where Xi hosted a collection of leaders mostly from the Global South. The campaign, backed indirectly by the unpredictable trade policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, seeks to elevate Chinese-led blocs over NATO-style Western alliances.
Trump himself did not ignore the spectacle. Posting on his Truth Social account, he wrote: “May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”
Meanwhile, Russian media reported that Kim and Putin held a bilateral meeting after the parade. Kim pledged to assist Moscow in what he described as a “fraternal duty,” while Putin thanked him for the contributions of North Korean troops said to be fighting alongside Russian forces. South Korean intelligence estimates around 15,000 such troops have already been sent to Russia.
Putin’s trip to Beijing coincided with a fresh wave of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine that injured railway workers and prompted Poland to scramble fighter jets in response. The timing, analysts noted, underscored Moscow’s determination to show it is not isolated despite sanctions.
Among the parade’s most striking moments was the unveiling of new Chinese military hardware. Hypersonic missiles, stealth aircraft, drones, and the DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile – reportedly capable of carrying nuclear warheads across continents – were rolled out for public view. Some underwater drones were also displayed, hinting at Beijing’s ambitions beneath the seas.
Military experts were quick to interpret the display. Drew Thompson, a fellow in Singapore, said the show of force was meant to remind the U.S., Europe, and China’s neighbors of the risks of challenging Beijing’s “core national interests.” Others noted that such parades are less about unveiling true capabilities than about projecting strength. “You don’t do this to commemorate World War II,” naval analyst Jennifer Parker observed. “You do it to send a message about what you can do today.”
Xi’s speech also echoed his recurring theme of China’s “national rejuvenation,” a slogan bound tightly to Beijing’s claim over Taiwan. The People’s Liberation Army has been modernizing rapidly under his leadership, even as it grapples with corruption and internal purges at levels not seen in decades.
The optics of Xi, Putin, and Kim standing shoulder to shoulder mattered as much as the missiles and fighter jets. A formal three-way meeting has yet to be confirmed, but if it happens, one researcher in Tokyo noted, it would be a deliberate signal of a “new cold war dynamic” – a move designed to rattle Washington while still leaving room for ambiguity.
