China’s Xi projects power at military parade with Putin and Kim

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping warned the world was facing a choice between peace and war at a massive military parade in Beijing on Sept 3, flanked by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in an unprecedented show of force.

The event to mark 80 years since Japan’s defeat at the end of World War II was largely shunned by western leaders, with Mr Putin and Mr Kim – pariahs in the West due to the Ukraine war and Mr Kim’s nuclear ambitions – the guests of honour.

Designed to project China’s military might and diplomatic clout, it also comes as US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs and volatile policymaking strain its relations with allies and rivals alike.

“Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win outcomes or zero-sum games,” Mr Xi told a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators at Tiananmen Square, adding that the Chinese people “firmly stand on the right side of history”.

Riding in an open-top limousine, Mr Xi then inspected the troops and cutting-edge military equipment such as hypersonic missiles, underwater drones and a weaponised “robot wolf”.

Helicopters trailing large banners flew in formation above during the 70-minute showcase thick with symbolism and propaganda, which culminated in the release of 80,000 peace doves and colourful balloons.

Donning a tunic suit in the style of those worn by former leader Mao Zedong, Mr Xi earlier greeted more than 25 leaders on the red carpet, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and

Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto, who made a surprise appearance

despite widespread protests at home.

Seated between Mr Putin and Mr Kim in the viewing gallery, Mr Xi repeatedly initiated conversations with both leaders as thousands of troops and material passed before them.

It marked the first time the trio have appeared together in public.

Mr Putin later thanked his North Korean counterpart for his soldiers’ courageous fighting in the war in Ukraine during a bilateral meeting at China’s State Guesthouse.

Mr Kim said he was

willing to do everything he can

to help Russia.

In a post directed at Mr Xi on Truth Social as the parade kicked off, Mr Trump highlighted the US role in helping China secure its freedom from Japan during World War II.

“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America,” Mr Trump added.

The Kremlin said

Mr Putin was not conspiring against the US

and suggested Mr Trump was being ironic in his remarks.

Xi’s global vision

Mr Xi has cast World War II as a major turning point in the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”, in which it overcame the humiliation of Japan’s invasion to become an economic powerhouse.

Earlier this week, Mr Xi unveiled his vision of a new global order at a regional security summit, calling for unity against “hegemonism and power politics”, a thinly veiled swipe at his rival across the Pacific Ocean.

“Xi feels confident that the table has turned. It’s China that is back in the driver’s seat now,” said Mr Sung Wen-Ti, fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, based in Taiwan.

“It’s been Trumpian unilateralism rather than China’s wolf warrior diplomacy when people talk about the leading source of uncertainty in the international system.”

At a lavish reception after the parade at the Great Hall of the People, Mr Xi told his guests that humanity must not return to the “law of the jungle”.

Beyond the pomp and propaganda, analysts are watching whether Mr Xi, Mr Putin and Mr Kim may signal closer defence relations following a pact signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024, and a similar alliance between Beijing and Pyongyang, an outcome that may alter the military calculus in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Putin has already sealed deeper energy deals with Beijing during his China visit, while the gathering has given the reclusive Mr Kim an opportunity to gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons.

It has been 66 years since a North Korean leader last attended a Chinese military parade.

Mr Kim also shook hands with the Speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly Woo Won-shik before the start of the parade, Mr Woo’s office said.

Pyongyang has rejected Seoul’s recent overtures to stabilise souring relations between the two Koreas, technically at war since the 1950 to 1953 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

Mr Kim travelled to Beijing with his daughter Ju Ae, whom South Korean intelligence consider his most likely successor, although she was not seen alongside him at the parade.

Impressive strides

Over the past two years, more than a dozen generals – many formerly close to Mr Xi – have been purged from the People’s Liberation Army in a sweeping corruption crackdown.

“The parade allows Xi to focus the world’s attention on its impressive strides in modernising its military hardware, while overshadowing the stubborn challenges afflicting the PLA, most notably the continued purges rolling through the ranks of its most senior officers,” said Mr Jon Czin, a foreign policy analyst at Brookings Institution, a US-based think-tank.

The parade was not only aimed at projecting China’s might to the outside world, but also galvanising patriotic spirit at home, analysts said.

In his keynote address, Mr Xi called the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation “unstoppable”.

Civil servants up and down the country have been tasked with watching the parade and writing down their reflections, one of them told Reuters. REUTERS