On September 3, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping will lead a major military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing to commemorate Victory Day marking 80 years since Japan’s surrender in World War II. In a significant move, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are confirmed to attend, marking their first-ever joint public appearance alongside Xi, in a symbol of solidarity amid intensifying Western pressure.
The lineup of invited dignitaries spans 26 foreign heads of state, including leaders from Belarus, Iran, Indonesia, Serbia, and several others but notably excludes Western representation, with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico being the only attendee from the European Union. The parade is expected to showcase China’s elevated military capabilities, including hypersonic weaponry, fighter jets, and sophisticated missile defense systems.
Kim’s participation marks his return to a major multilateral event after years of diplomatic isolation. Analysts view the gathering as more than ceremonial it symbolizes a deeper alignment between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang, especially in the face of Western sanctions and strategic exclusion.
2. Opinion (Insightful Commentary)
This event is more than a military spectacle it’s a high-profile geopolitical statement. Bringing together Xi, Putin, and Kim underscores a deliberate narrative: a united front challenging the Western-led international order. It’s a message that these nations are aligned not just strategically, but visibly.
However, such symbolism comes with limitations. While it conveys deterrence and defiance, it risks deepening global divisions. Western observers may interpret the parade as saber-rattling rather than diplomacy, raising tensions and diminishing the possibility of inclusive dialogue. Meanwhile, with each leader pursuing distinct regional priorities, the unity on display may prove fragile beyond optics.
3. Review & Possible Solutions (Analysis and Forward Path)
To keep this display from simply becoming a propagandist moment, broader engagement strategies are essential:
- Open Diplomatic Channels: Western powers and regional actors should not dismiss the event as mere posturing. Instead, they should explore parallel diplomatic outreach with the involved states to reduce fissures and reopen dialogue.
- Engage via Global Forums: International institutions like the UN or ASEAN can serve as neutral venues for conversations that include all parties even those currently at odds without compromising principles.
- Contextualize and De-escalate: Policy messaging should clarify that demonstrations of sovereignty don’t have to equate to mutual aggression or irreconcilable divergence. Economic, environmental, or pandemic collaboration could remain nonpartisan areas for engagement.
- Mutual Transparency: Encouraging transparent military communication measures—such as notification systems during military parades or drills—could lower misperceptions and prevent escalatory responses.
Absent these measures, such a parade may deepen polarization and foreclose future cooperation. But, framed constructively, it could offer a pivot point for renewed diplomacy with respect for differing worldviews.
