Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that China’s rise is “unstoppable” as he presided over a grand military parade in Beijing on Tuesday, flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The rare joint appearance of the three leaders comes amid escalating tensions with the West and was widely seen as a symbolic show of unity among authoritarian powers.
The parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, featured the largest display of military hardware China has ever presented on home soil, including hypersonic missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles, stealth drones, cyber warfare units, and unmanned underwater vehicles.
“The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is an unstoppable historical process,” Xi said during his speech in Tiananmen Square. “The world must choose: peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, cooperation or conflict.”
A Strategic Alliance on Display
The presence of Putin and Kim alongside Xi marked the first joint public appearance of the three leaders, underlining what analysts describe as a growing strategic axis aimed at challenging U.S. dominance and the Western-led international order.
Putin, continuing to face international sanctions over the war in Ukraine, used the platform to reinforce Moscow’s commitment to a “multipolar world.” Kim’s appearance, while more symbolic, further affirmed North Korea’s alignment with Beijing and Moscow in opposition to Western influence in East Asia.
State media from China, Russia, and North Korea emphasized themes of sovereignty, resistance to Western interference, and shared historical sacrifices in the face of imperialism.
Trump Responds: “A Conspiracy Against the U.S.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the parade via Truth Social, calling the trilateral display a “conspiracy against the United States.” He urged Xi, Putin, and Kim not to forget America’s role in defeating fascism during WWII and warned of their growing coordination.
“They’re conspiring against the U.S.,” Trump wrote. “Let them remember who saved the world from tyranny.”
Despite the strong rhetoric, Trump reiterated that he had maintained a “very good relationship” with Xi during his presidency, while asserting that American military power remains unrivaled.
Global Implications and Rising Concerns
The high-profile event is the latest in a series of moves by China to project global influence and assert its leadership in the developing world. The public unity between the three leaders has sparked fresh concerns among U.S. allies in Asia and Europe.
“This isn’t just about military posturing,” said Dr. Eleanor Hayes, a senior analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “It’s a calculated message, not just to Washington, but to the world, that an alternative power structure is taking shape.”
With geopolitical flashpoints simmering from Taiwan to Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula to the South China Sea, Western leaders are now recalibrating their diplomatic and defense strategies in anticipation of potential shifts in the balance of global power.
A Show of Strength, a Signal of Intent
While the parade was meticulously staged for domestic audiences, reinforcing Xi’s image as a strong leader amid economic headwinds, it also served as a bold geopolitical signal. Analysts suggest that the increasingly public partnership among China, Russia, and North Korea could result in closer military, economic, and technological cooperation in the years ahead.
As the dust settles on the grand spectacle in Beijing, one thing is clear: the world is watching closely as global alliances harden, and a new era of strategic rivalry continues to unfold.
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