"Xi Jinping asserts China's power, with Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin positioning themselves as counterparts to the Western world"
Headline: Joint Military Parade in Beijing Marks 80th Anniversary of World War II End, Strengthens Regional Ties
In a grand display of unity and military prowess, China hosted a military parade on Beijing's Chang'an Avenue on September 3, 2025. The parade, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, marked 80 years since the end of World War II.
The event was a climax of a whirlwind week for President Xi, who had hosted a summit aimed at putting China front and center of regional relations. The parade showcased China's latest military technology, including underwater drones, supersonic missiles, and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).
Kim Jong Un was accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae and his sister Kim Yo Jong during the parade. This was the first time Kim had been seen with Xi and Putin at the same event, a symbolic gesture of strengthening ties between the three nations.
The parade concluded with Xi joining his guests in a seating area above a portrait of Mao Zedong on Tiananmen, the entrance gate of the historic Forbidden City. Millions of Chinese people watched the parade, a poignant reminder of the millions who were killed during China's prolonged war with imperial Japan in the 1930s and 40s.
Following the parade, Putin and Kim held talks. During the discussions, Putin thanked Kim for deploying North Korean soldiers to aid Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. The European Union's foreign policy chief denounced the presence of the Russian and North Korean leaders alongside Xi as "a direct challenge to the international system built on rules."
Xi, in his speech, warned the world was still "faced with a choice of peace or war" and said China was "unstoppable." He also criticized "bullying behavior" from certain countries, a veiled reference to the United States.
The parade was not only a show of China's military strength but also a demonstration of its political influence. According to Lam Peng Er, principal research fellow from the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, Kim's visit demonstrates that he has powerful Russian and Chinese friends who treat him with respect.
The next planned trip of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is to China, where he will participate in a major military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. This visit follows an inspection of a new missile production line in North Korea and is seen as a significant geopolitical event.
The parade was broadcasted by slick state media, showcasing images of soldiers jumping in and out of vehicles, tightly coordinated marches by servicemen and women, and the display of China's military vehicles and heavy weapons. Putin vowed to carry on the war in Ukraine if a peace deal could not be reached.
In response to the parade, President Donald Trump accused the three leaders of plotting against the United States. However, the parade in Beijing was a clear statement of China's growing influence in the region and its commitment to peace and unity.
