China presented an impressive arsenal of new superweapons in a grand military parade for 2025 in Beijing, sending a clear message that it is “unstoppable” and will not accept “bullying from anyone.” The event marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, attended by about 20 other heads of state and government.
President Xi Jinping, speaking just before the start, assured that his country “will never be bullied by thugs” and that China is ready to defend its sovereignty.
A spectacle of military power
For 70 minutes, Tiananmen Square became a stage for the display of superweapons: helicopters, next-generation fighter jets, bombers, ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, tanks, and thousands of soldiers paraded, before the ceremony culminated with the flight of 80,000 drones, according to Chinese network CCTV. Xi, in an open vehicle, inspected the troops before delivering his speech.
“The renaissance of the Chinese nation is unstoppable,” he declared, adding that “humanity once again faces a choice between peace and war, dialogue and conflict.”
Highlights of China’s Victory Parade in 1 min: pic.twitter.com/Kz6XiWZVxR
— Carl Zha (@CarlZha) September 3, 2025
The first three-way appearance
The presence of Putin and Kim alongside Xi was the element that drew the most attention. It was the first time the three leaders appeared together at an international forum, sending a clear message of unity against the United States and its allies. For Kim, who rarely travels outside his isolated country, the appearance in Beijing signalled a new chapter in his relations with the two powerful neighbouring states.
Analysts noted that Xi “demonstrates to the world that Kim meets with him, at a time when he hesitates to meet again with the American president or the leader of South Korea.”
The geopolitical dimension
The China military parade of 2025 coincided with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where the Xi–Modi rapprochement was emphasised, underlining China’s Eurasian orientation. The nearly 20 leaders who participated confirmed that Beijing has the power to gather around it forces that defy American pressure.
At the same time, Xi and Putin signed around 20 agreements, mainly on natural gas, while the Russian president once again blamed the West for the war in Ukraine.
Reactions from Washington
US President Donald Trump, although absent, responded sharply. Through Truth Social, he accused Xi, Putin, and Kim of “conspiring against the US,” although he claimed not to be worried about the Sino-Russian alliance, citing the “unmatched strength of the US armed forces.”
His statements came a few weeks after his fruitless meeting with Putin in Alaska, while it remains unclear whether he will attempt a new approach with Kim, with whom he had three historic meetings in 2018–2019.
China has begun its largest-ever military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Japan’s Defeat in the Pacific at the end of World War ll, overseen by Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside hundreds of foreign guests, to include Russia’s… pic.twitter.com/3NfEkO9BL3
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 3, 2025
“Deterrence theatre” but with cracks
Despite the impressive display, analysts remind that repeated purges in the Chinese army highlight problems of corruption and politicisation. Michael Raska, a specialist in military transformations, described the parade as “deterrence theatre,” noting that Beijing projects the image of a powerful 21st-century army, but internally weaknesses and fragile balances remain.
Watch the full parade:
Also read: China military parade signals global power ambitions
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