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He also said that rejuvination of China is “unstoppable”.
He also said that rejuvination of China is “unstoppable”.
What is happening?
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a dramatic appeal for global peace at a massive military parade in Beijing, warning that humanity faces a pivotal choice between war and peace.
Addressing a crowd of over 50,000 in Tiananmen Square, Xi said, “Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum.”
Flanked by Putin and Kim, Xi projects global defiance
Standing between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Xi led a parade that underscored China’s growing alignment with fellow leaders alienated by the West.
The occasion, commemorating 80 years since Japan’s defeat in World War Two, was boycotted by most Western powers, highlighting the deepening East-West divide in global politics.
Missiles, drones and ‘Robot Wolves’ take centre stage
The 70-minute parade was packed with high-tech military pageantry. Xi, in a Mao-style tunic, rode in an open-top limousine past troops and cutting-edge weapons, including hypersonic missiles, underwater drones, and a weaponised “robot wolf.”
A red carpet moment with strategic implications
Xi welcomed over 25 foreign dignitaries, including Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who made a surprise appearance despite political unrest at home.
The real headline, though, was Xi’s seating arrangement: flanked by Putin and Kim in the VIP gallery, chatting with them as China’s military hardware rolled past—a public alignment that hadn’t been seen before.
Trump weighs in with sarcasm on Truth Social
As the parade kicked off, U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to remind Xi of America’s role in liberating China from Japan.
“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” he wrote.
The Kremlin responded that Putin wasn’t conspiring with anyone, and called Trump’s message “ironic.”
From war-torn past to global power
For Xi, the parade wasn’t just about military prowess—it was a moment to assert China’s place in global history.
He has repeatedly framed World War II as the catalyst for China’s “great rejuvenation,” transforming the country from victim of imperial aggression to global superpower.
During his speech, he said that “the great rejuvination of the Chinese nation is unstoppable.”
Rewriting the Global Order: Xi’s Challenge to the West
Earlier in the week, Xi presented his vision of a new global system at a regional security summit, denouncing “hegemonism and power politics”—a thinly veiled critique of the U.S. Wen-Ti Sung of the Atlantic Council noted,
“Xi feels confident that the table has turned. It’s China that is back in the driver’s seat now.” he told Reuters.
Will Xi, Putin, and Kim cement military ties?
Beyond the pageantry, observers are closely watching the deepening ties between China, Russia, and North Korea.
A recent defence pact between Moscow and Pyongyang, and signs of a similar alliance with Beijing, suggest the three may be aligning more formally.
Analysts warn such a bloc could shift the military balance across the Asia-Pacific.
Putin signs deals, Kim gains support
During his visit, Putin inked expanded energy deals with China, further binding the two economies.
For Kim Jong Un, the parade offered rare international exposure—and potential support for North Korea’s banned nuclear weapons program.
While no public deals were announced, the optics suggested growing solidarity among the trio of isolated powers.
Parade signals more than power—it signals intent
China’s grand military spectacle was not just aimed at foreign audiences. It also served to boost nationalist pride at home and demonstrate Xi’s command of the world stage.
Behind the scenes, however, it signaled deeper, more strategic alignments that could redefine security dynamics in the region for years to come.
