Xi Stands with Putin and Kim Jong Un at Beijing Military Parade in Defiant Display to the West

BEIJING, Sept 3 — Chinese President Xi Jinping stood flanked by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a grand military parade in Beijing yesterday, concluding a week of high-profile diplomacy aimed at countering the West.

In a rare spectacle, Xi walked the red carpet at Tiananmen Square alongside both leaders, greeting them warmly—Putin to his right, Kim to his left. The parade, officially marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, doubled as a show of China’s military strength and a signal of unity with its allies.

Opening the event, Xi warned that the world still faced “a choice between peace or war,” declaring China “unstoppable.” Among the centerpiece displays was the DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missile, boasting a 20,000-kilometre range.

The tightly choreographed showcase drew a scathing response from US President Donald Trump, who accused the three leaders of colluding against Washington. “Give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Military showcase

During the 90-minute display, Xi reviewed troops and weaponry from an open-top limousine along Chang’an Avenue before joining his guests beneath Mao Zedong’s portrait on Tiananmen Gate, overlooking the Forbidden City. Thousands of uniformed soldiers marched in unison, while state media highlighted cutting-edge equipment, including underwater drones and supersonic missiles, alongside massive ICBMs.

Beijing residents filled the streets to watch a dramatic flypast by warplanes and helicopters, some forming the number “80” in the sky.

The parade capped a whirlwind week for Xi, who had hosted a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, where he condemned “bullying behaviour” by unnamed countries—a thinly veiled swipe at the United States. Putin used the platform to defend Russia’s war in Ukraine, blaming the West for provoking the conflict.

Many SCO leaders, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, joined Xi, Putin, and Kim at the Beijing event, though no major Western representatives were present.

Political influence

Security in Beijing was intensified, with roadblocks, soldiers stationed on bridges and intersections, and white barricades lining key boulevards.

Kim’s presence was especially notable: it marked the first time he had appeared publicly with both Xi and Putin and only his second reported overseas trip in six years. He was accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and his sister, Kim Yo Jong, who was photographed at a gala lunch.

Following the parade, Putin and Kim held talks, during which Putin thanked North Korea for sending soldiers to support Russia in its war with Ukraine.

According to Lam Peng Er of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, Kim’s visit “signals to North Koreans and the world that he has powerful Russian and Chinese allies who treat him with respect.”

“China is also showcasing its convening power and political influence by bringing Putin and Kim together,” Lam added. — AFP