World

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a massive military parade in the heart of Beijing on Wednesday, where he was flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a striking show of unity against the West. In unprecedented scenes, Xi walked down a red carpet in Tiananmen Square with Putin to his right and Kim to his left. The three leaders shook hands and exchanged words as military bands played and thousands of troops stood at attention. The 90-minute parade was officially held to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, but it doubled as a display of China’s growing military might and its strengthened ties with Moscow and Pyongyang. Kicking off the ceremony, Xi delivered a stark warning: “The world is still faced with a choice of peace or war,” before declaring that “China is unstoppable.” Former U.S. President Donald Trump quickly reacted to the spectacle, posting on Truth Social: “Give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.” Show of Strength From an open-topped limousine, Xi inspected rows of soldiers and an array of military hardware along Beijing’s Chang’an Avenue. Tanks, armored vehicles, missile launchers, and thousands of troops marched in formation, while warplanes and helicopters roared above in a flypast that briefly formed the number “80.” Crowds of Beijing residents lined the streets to watch the rare spectacle, while state media broadcast images of immaculately dressed servicemen and women marching in tight ranks. Diplomatic Week The parade capped a week of intense diplomacy for Xi. Just days earlier, he hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, where leaders from 10 countries gathered to emphasize non-Western cooperation. At that summit, Xi condemned “bullying behaviour” by unnamed countries, widely interpreted as a reference to the United States. Putin defended Russia’s war in Ukraine, insisting the conflict was provoked by the West. Also Read | Nikki Haley Advocates Stronger India–US Ties to Counter China Influence Many leaders who attended the Tianjin summit, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, joined the parade in Beijing. Notably, no senior Western leaders were present. Kim’s Rare Appearance Kim Jong Un’s presence at the parade was particularly symbolic. It was only his second foreign trip in six years and the first time he has been seen alongside both Xi and Putin. He arrived in Beijing on his olive-green armored train, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae. Analysts say the moment was carefully staged to highlight North Korea’s close alignment with China and Russia. Lam Peng Er, a senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute in Singapore, remarked: “Kim’s visit demonstrates to the North Koreans and the world that he has powerful Russian and Chinese friends who treat him with respect. China also shows that it has convening power and political influence to bring Putin and Kim Jong Un together.” Security and Symbolism Beijing was heavily fortified for the event, with streets closed, soldiers stationed across the city, and barriers set up along main boulevards. For Xi, the parade was more than a commemoration—it was a chance to broadcast China’s growing military and political influence, while presenting a united front with allies who share his resistance to Western pressure.