ISLAMABAD: In a rare show of unity, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin stood alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday during a massive military parade in Beijing, in scenes observers described as unprecedented.
AFP reported that Xi shook hands with both leaders and walked with them down a red carpet in Tiananmen Square, with Putin on his right and Kim on his left.
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un were guests of China’s Xi Jinping for a massive military parade in Beijing.
Watch in full: https://t.co/QEdUZcReJe pic.twitter.com/iLUnuahlQa
— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 3, 2025
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among 26 world leaders present to witness China’s largest-ever military parade, a display of strength orchestrated by Xi to highlight Beijing’s growing influence on the global stage.
🚨BREAKING: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrives to Chinese military parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War pic.twitter.com/CFiqDX2s0W
— The Daily CPEC (@TheDailyCPEC) September 3, 2025
The parade, marking 80 years since the end of World War II, was choreographed to highlight China’s military might and send a message of defiance against Western powers.
China’s most advanced weaponry took front and centre in the parade, including a new generation of hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, underwater drones, fighter jets, early warning aircraft and aircraft jamming systems.
Long-range intercontinental missiles – capable of delivering nuclear warheads – were also given a prominent position in the parade alongside tight formations of military personnel marching in unison before an audience of 50,000 observers. Above the parade, the Chinese air force staged a flyover, including helicopters with banners declaring, “Justice will prevail”, “Peace will prevail”, and “The people will win”.
⚡️Chinese soldiers march in military parade celebrating 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in WW2. 🎥
China showcases nuclear missiles, anti-drone tech, and unmanned fighter jets at Victory Day parade in Beijing. 🎥📸 pic.twitter.com/oeu4tEqugh
— The World War (@TheWorldWar12) September 3, 2025
Xi’s warning to the world
Kicking off the parade the 90-minute parade, Xi warned that the world still faced a “choice of peace or war,” declaring China “unstoppable.”
The Chinese president inspected troops and weaponry from an open-topped limousine before rejoining his guests beneath the iconic portrait of Mao Zedong at the Gate of Heavenly Peace.
China is holding a massive military parade to commemorate 80 years since Japan surrendered at the end of World War II.
North Korea’s Kim and Russia’s Putin are at the event hosted by China’s Xi. DW has more.https://t.co/MCuN0yiCOI pic.twitter.com/d6xoD3Zm2x
— DW News (@dwnews) September 3, 2025
China’s huge collection of military vehicles and heavy weapons rolled past the dignitaries, while images of thousands of servicemen and women in immaculate uniforms marching in tight ranks as missiles and armoured vehicles rolled down Chang’an Avenue and soldiers jumping in and out of vehicles were shown in a state media broadcast. A spectacular flypast of warplanes formed the number “80” in the sky.
Trump reacts
US President Donald Trump delivered a sharp response, accusing Xi, Putin and Kim of conspiring against Washington.
“Give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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…
— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) September 3, 2025
Kim steps onto world stage again
Kim’s attendance was notable as his first joint appearance with Xi and Putin, and only his second trip abroad in six years. He arrived in Beijing by his signature olive-green train, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae.
According to AFP, analysts said the North Korean leader’s presence signalled that he had “powerful Russian and Chinese friends who treat him with respect.”
Kim largely withdrew from international diplomacy after the failed 2019 Hanoi summit with Trump and remained in North Korea during the Covid-19 pandemic. He last met Putin in Russia’s far east in 2023.
Regional alliances on display
The parade capped a week of high-profile diplomacy by Xi, who days earlier hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The 10-member bloc, which includes Russia, China and Central Asian states, has positioned itself as an alternative to Western alliances.
During the meeting, Xi criticised “bullying behaviour” by certain countries – a veiled reference to the US – while Putin defended Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Leaders from Belarus, Kazakhstan and other Eurasian states joined Xi for the parade, but no major Western officials were in attendance.
Whirlwind week
Beijing residents went out into the streets to catch a glimpse of a spectacular flypast involving scores of warplanes and helicopters, some making an “80” formation.
🔥🔥Trump look away. China’s military victory parade is a world stunner as President Xi displays China’s power with Russian President Putin, Iranian President Pezeshkian and North Korean Supreme leader Kim Jong Un in attendance. pic.twitter.com/8CxhC24u7X
— Abdi (@BLACKTIVIST5) September 3, 2025
Millions of Chinese people were killed during a prolonged war with imperial Japan in the 1930s and 40s, which became part of a global conflict following Tokyo’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
The event was the climax of a whirlwind week for Xi, who on Sunday and Monday hosted a slew of Eurasian leaders for a summit in the northern port city of Tianjin aimed at putting China front and centre of regional relations, according to AFP.
Tightened security in Beijing
The Chinese capital was locked down for the event, with roads closed, barriers erected and thousands of troops deployed across the city.
Analysts said the parade underscored both China’s military confidence and its ability to convene allies.
“China shows that it has convening power and political influence to bring Putin and Kim Jong Un together,” Lam Peng Er of Singapore’s East Asian Institute told AFP.
