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In a dramatic show of diplomatic defiance, China hosted Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin at its largest military parade in years. Is this the beginning of a new anti-West alliance?
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and heads of foreign delegations arrive for a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China September 3, 2025. (Reuters)
China’s Victory Day military parade in Beijing was not just a look back at history. It became one of the most striking geopolitical images of recent years: Chinese President Xi Jinping walking the red carpet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before reviewing tens of thousands of troops at Tiananmen Square.
The parade marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, but its contemporary message was clear. This was the first time Xi, Putin and Kim had been seen together in public, joined also by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing, both representing governments heavily sanctioned by the West. Their presence underscored what many observers described as a deliberate message: China is actively fostering global relationships outside the Western-dominated order.
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Notably absent were major Western heads of state. Only Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić attended, both leaders known for maintaining closer ties with Moscow and Beijing.
The parade capped a week of diplomatic engagements including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where Xi hosted several regional leaders, among them Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Why Now, And Why These Leaders?
The timing was not accidental.
For Russia, still fighting in Ukraine, and for North Korea, which rarely sends its leader abroad, appearing in Beijing was a chance to show they are not isolated. Kim Jong Un’s presence was particularly notable. According to South Korean intelligence cited in reports, he was accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae, believed to be his likely heir, giving the event a dynastic undertone.
China’s official media, meanwhile, used the moment to reinforce its historical narrative. In an editorial published ahead of the parade, People’s Daily argued that China’s role in defeating Japan had been “selectively ignored and underestimated by some”, accusing critics of “deliberately belittling and vilifying” the Communist Party’s wartime contribution.
For Xi, bringing together sanctioned leaders like Putin, Kim, Pezeshkian and Min Aung Hlaing alongside Global South attendees was less about WWII commemoration and more about signalling diplomatic weight at a time when the US is escalating trade and tariff measures.
An Associate Professor of Chinese politics, Alfred Wu, told the Guardian, this was Xi “showcasing that he is strong” and that China now commands its own orbit of influence.
What Did China Want To Project With This Parade?
Military power. Strategic depth. And a revisionist narrative.
For China, this was a chance to challenge not just Western policy, but also Western memory. The parade coincided with renewed messaging from Chinese state media asserting that China and Soviet Russia played a pivotal role in defeating fascism, a contribution they argue is “underestimated” by the West.
Beijing also unveiled an array of advanced weaponry, including jet fighters, underwater drones, anti-ship Ying Ji missiles, and the DF-26 “Guam killer” ballistic missile. Defence experts told AFP the equipment was meant to rival US capabilities in the Indo-Pacific and signal deterrence.
Xi’s speech, calling China “unstoppable” and warning of a global choice between peace or confrontation, reinforced that this was more than ceremonial. It was strategic storytelling, on China’s terms.
Is This The Beginning Of A Formal Alliance?
Not quite. At least, not yet.
There was no formal trilateral summit between Xi, Putin, and Kim. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told Tass a private Putin–Kim meeting was “under consideration,” but it never happened. This wasn’t a NATO-style alliance; it was optics, not organisation.
Still, the effect is the same: a show of cohesion among countries long targeted by sanctions and regime-change rhetoric. What Xi offered them was a global platform, legitimacy by association, and a common foil: the West, and especially the United States.
How Has The West Responded?
Donald Trump downplayed the moment, insisting that “China needs us more than we need them” and calling the idea of a new anti-US axis “not at all” credible.
But his message on Truth Social, posted as the parade began, struck a different tone: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States of America.”
This mix of sarcasm and dismissal reflects Washington’s balancing act: not legitimising China’s parade, but not ignoring it either. Trump also said he was “very disappointed” in Putin after a failed peace attempt in Alaska and reiterated that the US has “the most powerful military in the world.”
Yet, China’s ability to host the week’s key players, while Western leaders stayed home, has raised questions about whether American leverage is slipping in parts of Asia and the Global South.
Where Did India Stand Amid The High-Profile Optics?
While not part of the military parade, India played a visible and strategic role in the week’s diplomatic engagements in Beijing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the SCO summit, hosted by President Xi just days earlier, marking his first visit to China in seven years.
India’s participation underscored its commitment to multilateral dialogue in the region, even as it maintains balanced partnerships with both the West and the Global South. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman noted that Modi’s presence at the SCO reflected New Delhi’s calibrated foreign policy, one that engages across forums without aligning too closely with any bloc.
By being present at the summit and continuing its active role within the SCO framework, India reaffirmed its status as a key regional player, one that prioritises sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and issue-based cooperation across the geopolitical spectrum.
So, What’s Next?
China’s parade may not have launched a formal alliance, but it redrew the optics of global power. The week’s events reflected Xi’s broader vision of a multipolar world, less reliant on US-led institutions and more shaped by emerging powers.
About the Author
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar…Read More
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar… Read More
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