Xi’s Parade Shows China’s Rise as Global Power vs US

China’s military parade shows Xi Jinping’s global ambitions, highlighting advanced weapons, alliances with Putin & Kim, and a challenge to US power.

China staged a massive military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, turning a commemoration of World War Two into a demonstration of power and ambition. President Xi Jinping stood alongside Russian leader Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, sending a strong signal to Washington.

Xi greeted Kim with a handshake, welcomed Putin, and then sat flanked by the two leaders. The image underlined China’s central role in an alliance that challenges US influence. Former US President Donald Trump quickly accused the three of conspiring against America, but Xi appeared to embrace the global spotlight.

China’s Military Power on Display

The parade showcased nuclear-capable missiles, hypersonic anti-ship weapons, drones, and laser systems. Xi inspected his troops before units goose-stepped past in flawless formation. The display highlighted precision, discipline, and China’s determination to build a military force that can rival the West.

Historical and Strategic Significance

Xi, Putin, and Kim’s appearance together echoed Cold War gatherings when Mao Zedong hosted Soviet and North Korean leaders at the same site. Today, however, China leads this partnership. North Korea relies on Beijing’s support, while Putin gains legitimacy from Xi amid the Ukraine war.

Xi declared that China is a “great nation that is never intimidated by bullies,” warning that humanity faces a choice between “peace or confrontation.”

The Taiwan Question

Nationalist voices in the crowd linked the parade to China’s ambition to reunify Taiwan, with some predicting unification by 2035. The new naval and missile systems displayed will likely increase concerns in Taipei and Western capitals.

Domestic Challenges Behind the Show

The spectacle also served to distract from China’s domestic problems, including slow economic growth, a real estate crisis, rising youth unemployment, and an ageing population. By projecting global strength, Xi reinforced unity and national pride at home.

In the end, the parade was not only about honoring history but about showing China’s rise and its determination to compete with the US for global leadership.