‘Never intimidated by any bullies’: Putin and Kim on dias, Xi sends message to Trump with military show

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said that the country “is never intimidated by bullies”, in a veiled dig at US President Donald Trump, as he asserted that Beijing “firmly stands on the right side of history.”

Xi’s comments came as he addressed the Victory Day parade, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Chinese leader said China was “unstoppable” in a speech to kick off proceedings.

“The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable and humanity’s cause of peace and development will prevail,” Xi said, adding the world was “faced with a choice of peace or war”.

“We will remain committed to the path of peaceful development. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has been and will always be the heroic armed forces that the people can trust and rely on,” the Chinese president added.

Trump greets Xi

Trump greeted China on its Victory Day and sent “warmest regards” to this year’s parade participants, President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “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 to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory.”

He added, “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.”

Trump has been in murky waters ever since the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit brought together leaders like Xi, Putin, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when tariffs imposed by him are wreaking havoc across the world.

Show of power

China has touted the parade as a show of unity with other countries, and Kim’s attendance is the first time he has been seen with Xi and Putin at the same event. It is only his second reported trip abroad in six years.

All eyes are on how the trio of Xi, Putin and Kim – who rarely leaves secretive North Korea – interact with each other in a highly choreographed photo opportunity seen as a coup for China on the world stage.

During the summit, Xi slammed “bullying behaviour” from certain countries – a veiled reference to the United States – while Putin defended Russia’s Ukraine offensive, blaming the West for triggering the conflict.

With inputs from agencies