BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday warned the world was facing a choice between peace or war at a massive military parade in Beijing, 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 Two was largely shunned by Western leaders, with Putin and Kim – pariahs in the West due to the Ukraine war and 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 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 or zero-sum,” 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, Xi then inspected the troops and cutting-edge military equipment such as hypersonic missiles, underwater drones and a weaponised ‘robot wolf’.
Also, Xi hailed his country’s “unstoppable” rise on Victory Day parade. Twenty heads of state attended the event in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean President Kim Jong Un. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was also present.
“The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, and the noble cause of peace and development for humanity will inevitably triumph,” Xi said. “Ensuring common security will only be possible when the nations of the world treat each other on an equal footing, live in harmony, and support each other,” Xi went on to say.
Seated between Putin and Kim in the viewing gallery, Xi repeatedly engaged in conversations with both leaders as thousands of troops and materiel passed before them. It marked the first time the trio appeared together in public.
Putin later thanked Kim for his soldiers’ courageous fighting in the war in Ukraine during a bilateral meeting at China’s State Guesthouse. The North Korean leader said he was willing to do everything he can to help Russia.
Underscoring such anxieties, as the parade began US President Donald Trump in a social media post accused Xi of trying to “conspire against The United States of America” with Kim and Putin, without elaborating.
US President Donald Trump accused the leaders of China, North Korea and Russia of conspiring against the United States as Beijing hosted China’s largest-ever military parade showcasing its growing military might.
Trump posted the remarks Tuesday on the US social media company Truth Social’s platform, which he owns, writing: “The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ‘blood’ that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader.”
He noted that many Americans lost their lives in China’s struggle for victory and expressed hope that their bravery and sacrifice would be “rightfully Honored and Remembered.”
“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, and (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America,” he added.
The Kremlin said Putin was not conspiring against the United States and suggested Trump was being ironic in his remarks.
Cheers and gasps could be heard around Beijing on Wednesday as China’s capital lit up with pomp, pageantry and patriotism for a massive parade showcasing the country’s latest military hardware.
Members of the public gripping Chinese flags lined the streets for the morning spectacle, while the few thousand who had tickets gathered from the crack of dawn in Tiananmen Square.
Guests posed with wide smiles for photos with their parade invitations against the backdrop of Tiananmen, the entrance gate of the historic Forbidden City, which was adorned with national flags of China.
Giant, golden numerals “1945” and “2025” were erected on the square, a reminder of the 80 years that had passed since the end of World War II, as well as thousands of red and green seats set up for the occasion.
Parade-goers sang along as massed choirs belted out a patriotic, anti-Japanese anthem, pumping their fists in the air. Military bands blasted their trumpets in unison as soldiers marched in the square.
Dressed in a dark grey Chinese-style suit, Xi stood in an open-topped black limousine as it drove by troops standing at attention along the wide Chang’an Avenue.
“Comrades, you are working hard!” he shouted repeatedly into four microphones, before joining his guests in a grandstand above the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong on Tiananmen.
The ceremony took place in bright sunshine, with temperatures in the mid-30s, which proved difficult for many spectators who sweated profusely in the unshaded stands. Some who felt unwell left with the help of staff.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko — one of Putin’s staunch allies — was seen wearing a cap and sunglasses, while using a black electronic fan to keep cool.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), rocket launchers, and battle tanks were paraded past the dignitaries, and soldiers marched with precise, coordinated steps in tight formations.
PM Shehbaz attends China’s military parade
At China’s grand 80th World War II anniversary parade in Beijing, President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived together at the venue.
The Indian Prime Minister was not invited to this parade. The presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alongside the leaders of Asia’s most powerful nations highlights Pakistan’s growing significance in the region.
In his speech before parade, President Xi Jinping highlighted the significance of victory 80 years ago and called on nations to “eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring”.
