On Wednesday, China staged a massive military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied Powers, marking the end of the Second World War. This event, China’s first such grand-scale military parade since 2019, underscores Beijing’s growing assertiveness on the global stage.
The commemoration came after a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other world leaders. Their meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing U.S. trade frictions, namely tariffs, and the presence of Modi, a longtime ally of Washington whom the U.S. spent a long time cultivating a careful relationship with, added weight to the diplomatic maneuvering surrounding the talks.
At the parade itself, the absence of Western leaders was striking. Only Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksander Vučić attended, both known for maintaining close ties with Moscow. Before the ceremony began, Xi appeared alongside Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, a symbolic display of alignment between three nations frequently at odds with the United States. The moment carried added significance given Moscow and Pyongyang’s recently signed defense pact, pledging mutual support in the event of an attack.
In his speech during the parade, Xi struck a defiant tone. “History cautions us that humanity rises and falls together […] Today humanity has to choose between peace and war,” he declared, before warning that “the Chinese nation is never intimidated by any bullies.” In recent speeches made by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing often uses the term “bullies” to refer to the United States and its allies, particularly regarding Taiwan. Delivered at a military parade, Xi’s remarks reinforced the message that China is determined to reunify with Taiwan, by force if necessary, and will continue building a “world-class military” to defend its interests. Aside from Taiwan, this speech could also serve as a warning to Western nations, even their own allies, to avoid obstructing Beijing’s agenda.
U.S. President Trump took to Truth Social to give his regards to Xi Jinping while also condemning Russia’s Putin and North Korea’s Kim for “conspiring against the United States of America.” This comes weeks after Trump hosted Putin in Alaska, where he rolled out the red carpet and expressed their great relationship. Trump also expressed frustration that Xi failed to acknowledge America’s wartime sacrifices in helping expel Japanese forces from Chinese territory.
Finally, Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, made a rare public appearance at the parade beside her father. Little is known about the family, and it is speculated that she will become his successor.
Leave a Reply