China staged its largest-ever military parade on Wednesday, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, with a guest list that included Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The highly choreographed display, paired with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit earlier in the week, underscored Beijing’s ambition to rally a bloc of anti-Western partners and project itself as a central player in global power politics.
A Defiant Show of Strength
Xi Jinping walked alongside Putin and Kim in Tiananmen Square — the first time all three leaders have appeared together publicly. Leaders from Iran, Belarus, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Zimbabwe also attended, while the U.S., Europe, Japan, and other democracies were notably absent.
Jack Perry, chairman of the UK’s 48 Group, called the fair a “stabilizer” in global trade, highlighting its role at a time when protectionism and geopolitical tensions threaten supply chains.
The parade showcased tanks, drones, stealth aircraft, and nuclear-capable missiles, signaling Beijing’s growing military confidence. Xi warned the world faced a choice between “peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum.”
Unlike the U.S., China positions itself as a power that does not interfere in other nations’ domestic affairs, a principle appealing to many smaller and autocratic states. Analysts say Xi is not seeking to replace the U.S. as a global police power but to reshape the international system in ways that protect China’s interests and reduce western influence.
The SCO summit that preceded the parade highlighted this ambition. Xi announced plans for a development bank and a new energy cooperation platform with Russia and India. The bloc, now 10 members strong and representing nearly half the world’s population, is positioning itself as an alternative to U.S.-led institutions.
Putin used the event to break out of western isolation, showcasing partnerships with China, India, and other nations. Kim Jong Un, meanwhile, signaled closer alignment with Moscow by pledging further support to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. His presence also reaffirmed China’s role as the dominant power in this anti-Western axis.
Implications for Taiwan and Beyond
Analysts noted Beijing’s military focus reflects lessons from the war in Ukraine. China is preparing for potential conflict scenarios over Taiwan, which Xi has vowed to “reunify” with the mainland. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te responded that peace “is not commemorated with the barrel of a gun.”
The End of U.S.-China Cooperation
U.S.-China relations remain at a low point, with President Donald Trump mocking the Beijing parade on social media while privately admiring its scale. Cooperation on areas such as climate change has broken down, leaving China to deepen ties with Russia for energy security and with North Korea for border stability.
This week’s events confirm the emergence of a China-led bloc, built on shared resistance to Western pressure and U.S. dominance. With America retreating from traditional leadership roles, Beijing is filling the vacuum — offering smaller nations economic opportunity, political cover, and a vision of multipolarity. The question is how far this new order will stretch, and at what cost to global stability and human rights.
