Xi Jinping and allies host a massive military parade in China
On September 3, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a massive military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s WW2 surrender. Joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the event showcased China’s advanced arsenal.
Including missiles and drones, as a bold statement against Western dominance and a push for a multi-polar world. Xi warned of a choice between peace and war, while U.S. President Donald Trump fired back on social media, accusing the leaders of conspiring against America, amplifying global tensions.
Chinese President Xi, accompanied by North Korean Kim and Russian Putin, held his nation’s largest-ever military display on Wednesday. Western leaders have mostly shunned the highly-choreographed event to commemorate 80 years since Japan’s defeat at the end of World War Two. The guests of honour are Kim and Putin, who are looked down upon in the West because of their nuclear ambitions and the conflict in Ukraine.
In addition to being intended to demonstrate China’s military power and diplomatic influence. It comes as US President Donald Trump’s trade restrictions and erratic policy-making are straining China’s ties with both allies and adversaries.
“Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history. Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum,” Xi said to a crowd of over 50,000 people in Tiananmen Square.
Following his ride in an open-top vehicle, Xi examined the soldiers and state-of-the-art military hardware, including weaponized robot wolves, underwater drones, and hypersonic missiles. Fighter jets and helicopters carrying huge banners flew in formation during the symbolic 70-minute performance, which ended with the release of 80,000 peace birds.
Earlier, Xi greeted around 25 leaders on the red carpet including Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia. Who made an unexpected attendance amid strong demonstrations at home, while wearing a tunic suit in the style of previous leader Mao Zedong.
According to SABC, several of the attendees heard Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan stating in English, “nice to meet you, welcome to China.” As thousands of troops and supplies paraded in front of them. Xi seated in the viewing gallery between Kim and Putin, regularly struck up discussions with both presidents.
Trump said on Truth Social at the beginning of the event, “please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.” He also emphasized how the U.S assisted China in gaining its independence from Japan during World War Two.
Earlier, Trump told reporters that he did not consider the parade to be a challenge to the U.S. The top government spokesperson for Japan declined to comment on the parade, but he did say that the two largest economies in Asia were establishing constructive relations.
Taiwan, a democratic country that China claims as its own, has warned its citizens not to go to the parade, claiming that doing so may strengthen Beijing’s territorial claims. Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, criticized the ceremony sharply on Wednesday, saying that the country does not celebrate peace with a rifle barrel.
