On Wednesday, Xi Jinping affirmed that China “cannot be stopped” during a massive military parade, flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, culminating a week of diplomatic milestones for the Chinese president and his allies in confrontation with the West.

In unprecedented scenes, Xi shook hands with the two leaders and spoke to them as they walked together on the red carpet at Tiananmen Square, with Putin on Xi’s right and Kim on his left, followed by about twenty leaders from countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and Belarus.

The official ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II was an opportunity for Xi to showcase China’s military strength and gather friendly leaders in hopes of sending a message to the rest of the world.

At the start of the parade, Xi said, “The rise of the Chinese nation cannot be stopped, and the noble cause of peace and development for humanity will surely prevail.”

He added, “Today, humanity once again faces a choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation.”

One of the highlights of the military display was the new intercontinental ballistic missile “DF-5C,” with a range of 20,000 kilometers.

The event, meticulously planned down to every detail, was met with a sarcastic reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused the three leaders of conspiring against the United States.

On his platform “Truth Social,” he wrote, “Please send my best regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un while you conspire against the United States.”

EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas condemned the participation of the Russian president and North Korean leader alongside the Chinese president at the military parade, calling it “a direct challenge to the rules-based international order.”

She told reporters in Brussels that “a new global order is taking shape.”

In remarks to journalists at the end of his visit to China, Putin pledged to continue fighting in Ukraine if no peace agreement is reached with Kyiv, while asserting that Moscow’s forces are advancing along the entire front line.

Military Equipment Display

During the ninety-minute parade, Xi inspected the assembled troops and weapons from the sunroof of a limousine on Chang’an Street in Beijing before joining his guests seated under a giant portrait of Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Square, at the entrance to the Forbidden City, a historic landmark of the capital.

A massive convoy of Chinese military vehicles and heavy weapons passed before the leaders while official media broadcast thousands of soldiers, men and women in formal uniforms marching in tight ranks, with others jumping on and off vehicles.

Alongside the intercontinental ballistic missiles, the weapons displayed included new underwater drones and hypersonic missiles.

Residents of Beijing took to the streets hoping to glimpse dozens of fighter jets and helicopters flying in formation to form the number “80.”

Millions of Chinese were killed in the prolonged conflict with the Japanese Empire in the 1930s and 1940s, which became part of World War II after Tokyo’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

A Busy Week

All eyes were on how the trio of Xi, Putin, and Kim, who rarely leaves North Korea, interacted with each other. However, official media broadcasts showed only rare footage of the three together, while journalists were asked to keep their distance and not photograph the leaders.

The event was the climax of a busy week for Xi, who hosted a group of Eurasian leaders at a summit aimed at positioning China at the forefront of regional relations.

The club of ten countries forming the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization” describes itself as a regional cooperation body distinct from Western styles, seeking to be an alternative to traditional alliances.

During the summit, Xi condemned “bullying” by some countries, implicitly referring to the United States, while Putin defended the Russian invasion of Ukraine, blaming the West for the outbreak of war.

Many guests of the Tianjin summit, including Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and several other leaders, joined Xi to attend the Beijing parade.

No prominent Western figures were among the roughly twenty world leaders attending the occasion.

Political Influence

Security measures were tightened around Beijing with roads closed and soldiers deployed on bridges and streets, while barriers were set up along the capital’s broad avenues.

China promoted the parade as a show of unity, marking the first time Kim was seen at this event alongside Xi and Putin, his second announced trip abroad in six years.

Kim was accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae, who was photographed arriving at Beijing’s train station, and his sister Kim Yo-jong, who was photographed by AFP during Wednesday’s lunch.

Putin and Kim held talks after the military parade, during which the Russian president thanked Kim for sending North Korean troops to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

Lam Peng Er, a researcher at the East Asia Institute of the National University of Singapore, said Kim’s visit “shows North Koreans and the world that he has strong Russian and Chinese friends who treat him with respect.”

He added, “It also shows China has the political influence and ability to bring together Putin and Kim Jong Un.”