Display of military power and global aspirations by China's Xi showcased during grand military parade.

Headline: Historic Military Parade Marks 80th Anniversary of World War II Victory in Beijing

China staged a grand military parade on September 3, 2025, in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the defeat of imperial Japan and the end of World War II. The event, attended by more than two dozen world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was a spectacle of China's military might.

Thousands of soldiers marched through Tiananmen Square, accompanied by warplanes, bombers, helicopters, advanced stealth drones, new nuclear missiles, and a new cyberspace combat unit. The parade concluded with seven J-10 jets flying over Tiananmen Square, cutting trails of colored smoke through the skies.

The speech before the parade was delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who stated that humanity has to choose between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, win-win cooperation, or zero-sum game. Xi Jinping opened the parade, asserting China's commitment to peace while signaling its military strength to deter potential threats.

Beijing wants to send a clear message to actors like the U.S. that it has a powerful military and is unafraid to stand by its allies, such as Russia, despite Western countries imposing sanctions against Russia over the Russia-Ukraine war. This was the first time that Xi Jinping, Putin, and Kim Jong Un have come together at one event, and China's move is seen as a diplomatic win, especially as the U.S. continues to pressure China with trade tariffs.

The event was exclusive, with ordinary people living in Beijing only able to attend by special invite. However, Jade Gao, AFP via Getty Images captured the event, providing a glimpse of the grand spectacle for the world.

Meanwhile, Taipei's President William Lai used the WWII anniversary to reframe the war as a battle of democracy against authoritarianism, seeking to paint China's current government as a threat. The U.S. does not officially recognize Taiwan as a country and maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity" over whether it would militarily defend the islands.

Trump accused Xi, Putin, and Kim of colluding against the United States during the parade. Trump met Putin in Alaska in mid-August to discuss the war in Ukraine, but the relationship between the U.S. and China remains tense. A recent survey showed that 83% of Chinese people viewed Russia as their friend, and 76% viewed North Korea as a friend of China.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has increased pressure on the island in recent years. The military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025, marked the first time that North Korea's Kim Jong Un attended an international multilateral event, further solidifying China's position on the global stage.

Display of military power and global aspirations by China's Xi showcased during grand military parade.