BEIJING — A grand parade in the name of peace unfolded under the watchful eyes of leaders deeply entangled in one of today’s most persistent conflicts.
More than 50,000 people gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on Wednesday to witness a large-scale military parade, highlighting the rapid modernization of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The event marked the climax of a week of intense diplomacy and reflected years of effort by Chinese President Xi Jinping to reshape the global balance of power and challenge U.S. dominance.
Standing through the sunroof of a moving limousine, Xi reviewed the assembled troops at the parade’s outset, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II.
China went on to unveil a broad array of advanced weaponry, including nuclear-capable missiles deployable by air, land, and sea; cutting-edge laser systems; undersea drones; and what state media described as a “highly intelligent” tank. The spectacle concluded with the release of 80,000 doves and 80,000 balloons, a symbolic gesture marking peace and remembrance.
Xi was flanked by leaders from Russia, North Korea, and Iran—nations aligned in what analysts have dubbed the “Axis of Upheaval”—in a visible show of solidarity against Western influence.
Each of these leaders plays a key role in supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine, a conflict that persists despite former U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a resolution.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent both troops and weapons to support Moscow, while U.S. officials say Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has supplied Russia with drones. Though Chinese President Xi Jinping has publicly maintained a stance of neutrality in the conflict, he continues to provide the Kremlin with crucial diplomatic backing and economic support.
Western leaders, including those from the United States and much of Europe, declined to attend the parade—largely due to the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose ongoing war in Ukraine remains a major point of international tension.
But their absence appeared to carry little weight for Xi, Putin, and Kim, who stood together atop the reviewing stand overlooking Tiananmen Square—marking their first public appearance as a trio.
“The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable,” Xi declared in his opening remarks. “The noble cause of peace and development for humanity will surely triumph.”
Foreign media coverage of the event was tightly controlled. Authorities reportedly barred journalists from pointing cameras or even mobile phones toward the three leaders.
The spectacle drew attention worldwide—including from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who posted online shortly after the parade began, questioning whether Xi would also recognize the sacrifices of American troops who helped China resist Japanese occupation during World War II.
“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”
The Kremlin later responded to Trump’s comment, saying it believed he was being ironic and insisted that “no one was plotting any conspiracies.”
Trump, for his part, downplayed concerns over deepening ties between Beijing and Moscow. Speaking Tuesday on “The Scott Jennings Radio Show,” he said he was “not concerned at all” about a potential alliance forming against the U.S.
“We have the strongest military in the world by far,” he said. “They would never use their military on us.”
Despite the highly choreographed nature of the parade and strict censorship on Chinese social media, public enthusiasm was unmistakable.
“I’m all teared up after seeing this! This means so much to us!” one user wrote on Weibo, where the parade quickly rose to dominate the platform’s trending topics.
Another commenter added, “I’m grateful that our country made us feel so secure!”
Historical Tensions Underscore Parade’s Message
China’s “Victory Day” parade served not only as a display of military strength but also as a reminder of the country’s role in defeating the Axis powers during World War II—known in China as the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
“Through immense national sacrifice, the Chinese people made a major contribution to saving human civilization and safeguarding world peace,” President Xi Jinping said in his opening address.
However, the event has drawn criticism for reigniting historical animosities, particularly toward Japan. Observers noted that the parade lacked the spirit of reconciliation typical of other global World War II commemorations, with some accusing Beijing of using the occasion to stoke nationalist and anti-Japanese sentiment.
Rather than focusing on collective wartime memory, Xi used the event to emphasize the Communist Party’s central role in the war effort—a move critics say reflects a revisionist narrative aimed at reinforcing the party’s legitimacy.
“It’s unfortunate that China can’t celebrate itself without celebrating the demise of Japan to gain political validation,” said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and former director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia at the U.S. Department of Defense.
Japan, a close U.S. ally, has not confirmed reports that it privately discouraged other countries from attending the event.
Parade Deepens Tensions with Taiwan
The parade also heightened tensions with Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island that Beijing claims as its own. One point of contention remains the differing historical narratives—Taipei disputes the extent of the Chinese Communist Party’s role in defeating Japan during World War II.
“The PLA has always been a heroic force that the Party and the people can fully trust,” Xi declared during the event, emphasizing the military’s mission to defend China’s “sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity”—a thinly veiled reference to Beijing’s ambitions toward Taiwan.
In contrast, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te marked the anniversary with a solemn memorial ceremony at the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei. “Taiwan does not use guns to commemorate peace,” he said, underscoring the island’s commitment to a peaceful remembrance of history.
Kim’s ‘Diplomatic Victory’ on Display
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who seldom travels abroad, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday aboard his signature armored train, accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae—fueling ongoing speculation that she is being positioned as his eventual successor.
The military parade marked Kim’s first appearance at a multilateral diplomatic event, and his presence alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin was widely seen as a symbolic breakthrough for Pyongyang.
North Korea’s ties with China—its largest trading partner and key ally—have cooled in recent years, particularly as Kim deepened his support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Analysts suggest that Kim may now be seeking to repair relations with Beijing, leveraging his growing cooperation with Moscow ahead of a potential shift in the regional balance once the war concludes.
His appearance at the parade, flanked by Xi and Putin, represented a “diplomatic victory” that reinforces his regime’s legitimacy while continuing to advance its weapons programs and rebuff U.S. calls to return to denuclearization talks, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.
“Kim Jong Un has spoken of a ‘new Cold War’ and the need for solidarity against so-called U.S. imperialism,” Easley said in emailed comments. “Now he has highly symbolic photos to promote that narrative at home and abroad.”
Though Kim met bilaterally with Putin on the sidelines of the parade, there was no formal three-way summit among the leaders.
During their two-and-a-half-hour meeting, Putin reportedly thanked Kim for dispatching North Korean troops to support Russia’s war effort, praising them as having fought “courageously” and “heroically.” He also extended another invitation for Kim to visit Russia. Kim responded by pledging to do “everything I can to assist” Moscow.
According to South Korea’s intelligence agency, approximately 2,000 of the estimated 15,000 North Korean troops sent to Ukraine have been killed—more than twice the number previously reported. Kim has publicly consoled grieving families on two occasions in recent days, a gesture experts believe may serve as a subtle reminder to Putin of the human cost North Korea has borne in the conflict.
Reporting by Janis Mackey Frayer in Beijing and Jennifer Jett in Hong Kong.
