Spectacle of Power
On September 3, 2025,China military witnessed its largest ever military parade in Tiananmen Square, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s WWII surrender. The event featured over 10,000 troops, hypersonic missiles, underwater drones, AI-aligned tanks, and a complete nuclear triad land, sea, and air highlighting China’s advanced military capabilities.(The Washington Post, AP News, Defense News, The Financial Express, Financial Times)
A Strong Political Statement
Presiding over the parade, Xi Jinping declared that the world faces a choice between “peace or war, dialogue or confrontation,” asserting that “China is unstoppable.”(Globedge) These words, delivered amid a show of force, reinforced China’s positioning as a dominant and sovereign global power.
Symbolic Guests of Honor
Seated beside Xi were Russian President Vladimir Putin (on Xi’s right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (on Xi’s left) a deliberate staging signaling China’s geopolitical alignment with non Western powers.(The Washington Post, Korea Joongang Daily, Financial Times, Firstpost, The National News) The trio’s joint appearance, a rare public spectacle, underscores a broader coalition often referred to by analysts as an “axis of upheaval.”(CBS News, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Reuters, Financial Times, France 2
Weaponry on Display
A striking array of cutting edge weaponry was unveiled:
- Nuclear triad: Included the DF-61, JL-1 (air-launched), JL-3 (submarine-launched), DF-31BJ (silo), and DF-5C (silo) ballistic missiles.(Defense News, The Financial Express, Financial Times)
- Hypersonic missiles: YJ-21 (ship/air-launched), DF-26D (intermediate-range), and DF-17, capable of countering U.S. naval forces, especially around Taiwan.(Defense News, The Financial Express, Financial Times, Gulf News)
- Next-gen platforms: Type 100 hybrid tanks with augmented-reality, plus autonomous drones, underwater vessels, and anti drone systems including lasers and microwaves.(Defense News, The Financial Express, Gulf News, Financial Times, The Sun)
Strategic Messaging
Analysts observed that the event serves dual strategic purposes:
- Domestic nationalism: The parade reinforces Xi’s narrative of “national rejuvenation” through China military strength.(Financial Times, Al Jazeera, The Indian Express)
- Global signal: The presence of Putin and Kim and the absence of Western leaders conveys a purposeful alignment against Western led global norms.(Financial Times, Firstpost, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, CBS News, The National News) Xi’s polished visual diplomacy, in effect, projects unity among rising authoritarian powers as a challenge to the U.S.-led international order.
Western Response
Former U.S. President Donald Trump responded sharply via Truth Social, accusing the trio of conspiring against the U.S. while also reminding Xi of American support during WWII:
“Give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”
Summary
China’s Victory Day Parade was not just a show of military advancements it was a strategic tableau:
- A public display of China’s unstoppable military modernization.
- A carefully crafted image of solidarity among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang.
- A counter-narrative to Western-led alliances and global leadership.
Together, these signals reflect a world watching the ascent of a distinct, alternate axis one that stands defiantly in contrast to American and Western dominance.
