A Show of Unity in Beijing
On September 3, 2025, Beijing’s Tiananmen Square became the stage for a historic display of solidarity as Chinese President Xi Jinping stood alongside Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. The military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, showcased China’s advanced weaponry and diplomatic clout. For the first time, these three leaders appeared together publicly, sending a defiant message to the West amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and isolationist policies. The event underscored a potential geopolitical shift, with China positioning itself as a leader of nations challenging the U.S.-led global order.
Human Impact of the Parade’s Message
The parade’s grandeur, with 50,000 spectators and thousands of goose-stepping soldiers, masked domestic struggles in China, Russia, and North Korea. In Beijing, weeks of security measures disrupted daily life, with residents facing traffic controls and heightened surveillance. For ordinary Chinese, grappling with economic stagnation and youth unemployment, the $5 billion parade—estimated at 1.5% of China’s 2025 defense budget—stirred mixed feelings of pride and frustration. In Russia and North Korea, citizens face sanctions and isolation, with Kim’s rare international appearance highlighting his regime’s reliance on China for economic survival.
Facts and Figures
The September 3, 2025, parade featured over 50,000 spectators and thousands of troops, with China unveiling hypersonic missiles, nuclear-capable Dongfeng-61 missiles, AI-powered stealth drones, and the HSU100 unmanned underwater vehicle. Twenty-six foreign leaders attended, including Putin, Kim, and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, but only Slovakia’s Robert Fico and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vučić represented Western nations. The event followed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, where Xi hosted leaders from 20 countries. Russia and China signed over 20 cooperation agreements, including energy deals between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation. South Korea estimates 15,000 North Korean troops are supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, with 2,000–600 killed in Kursk.
Broader Geopolitical Context
The parade highlighted China’s ambition to lead a multipolar world, capitalizing on U.S. retrenchment under Trump’s policies, including a 50% tariff on India for Russian oil purchases. Xi’s “no limits” partnership with Russia and renewed ties with North Korea signal a counterweight to Western influence, though analysts like Zhu Feng caution against overstating a formal China-Russia-North Korea bloc. China’s military modernization, with hypersonic weapons and a rapidly expanding navy, aims to rival the U.S., particularly in a potential Taiwan conflict. However, internal challenges, including PLA corruption purges and economic woes, temper China’s global posturing. The parade’s historical narrative, emphasizing the Communist Party’s role over the Nationalists’ in defeating Japan, also fuels tensions with Taiwan and Japan.
What Lies Ahead: A New Global Order?
The Beijing parade signals a realignment of global alliances, with Xi leveraging ties with Russia, North Korea, and others to challenge U.S. dominance. Putin’s presence counters Western sanctions, while Kim’s visit—his first multilateral event since 2011—aims to secure economic aid and legitimacy. Future trilateral military exercises, as predicted by analyst Youngjun Kim, could reshape Asia-Pacific security. However, China’s cautious stance on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and India’s balancing act with the West suggest limits to this “axis of upheaval.” Global cooperation, not confrontation, will be key to managing tensions and avoiding escalation.
Regional Reactions and Concerns
Taiwan criticized China’s historical revisionism, noting the Nationalist government’s primary role in World War II. Japan faced Beijing’s protests over reports it urged allies to skip the parade. India’s absence from the parade, despite Modi’s SCO attendance, reflects ongoing distrust with China post-2020 border clashes.
Conclusion: A Defiant Display Amid Global Flux
China’s 2025 military parade, with Xi flanked by Putin and Kim, marks a bold statement against a Western-led world order. The display of advanced weaponry and diplomatic unity underscores a geopolitical shift, driven by U.S. policy shifts and China’s rising influence. Yet, domestic challenges and differing national interests among these leaders suggest this is as much political jockeying as a unified front. As the world navigates this “peace or war” moment, as Xi described, the need for dialogue to prevent conflict remains urgent, ensuring the parade’s message of strength doesn’t ignite a broader crisis.
