80th Anniversary Parade: China Blends Celebration with Power Projection

Beijing, September 3, 2025 — The fluttering of red flags and the solemn backdrop of Tiananmen Square set the stage for what was both a celebration of history and a demonstration of power. Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, China staged a Victory Day ceremony that blended commemoration with a display of cutting-edge military might.

Rows of advanced weaponry and troops in precise formation transformed the occasion from a remembrance of past sacrifice into a clear projection of China’s ambitions. President Xi Jinping presided over the event, framing it not just as a tribute to wartime resilience but as a signal of the role China intends to play in shaping the world order.

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A Stage for Power Projection

Rows of hypersonic missiles, stealth aircraft, underwater drones, and China’s fully declared nuclear triad rolled past thousands of troops in immaculate formation. The choreography was deliberate: Beijing sought to demonstrate that its military modernization is not only advancing but has reached a scale that rivals the world’s leading powers.

President Xi’s address fused history with present-day ambition. He cast the Communist Party as guardian of national rejuvenation, framing the military spectacle as both remembrance of wartime sacrifice and a pointed reminder that China intends to shape the global order on its own terms.

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Allies in the Stands

If the weapons were the performance, the guest list was the subtext. Xi was flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — an unmistakable tableau of authoritarian solidarity. Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, was also present, a symbolic nod to dynastic continuity in Pyongyang.

Beyond Moscow and Pyongyang, Beijing welcomed leaders and dignitaries from countries whose political trajectories often diverge from the Western liberal order. Among them:

• Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian
• Myanmar’s military leadership
• Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan
• Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
• Senior figures from Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

Notably absent were Western leaders, with Japan urging allies to boycott the parade over concerns of anti-Japanese undertones.

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What the Parade Signaled

The spectacle underscored three intertwined messages:

1. Strategic Deterrence — China’s hypersonic and nuclear capabilities were presented as both reassurance to its citizens and warning to rivals.
2. Geopolitical Realignment — The optics of Xi standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Putin and Kim suggested a strengthening counter-Western bloc.
3. Ideological Divide — With democratic nations pointedly missing, the parade illustrated the sharpening contrast between Beijing’s vision of sovereignty and the Western emphasis on rules-based order.

The Global Response

Reactions were swift. Western analysts described the parade as a “theatre of deterrence,” while former U.S. President Donald Trump blasted it as “provocation disguised as remembrance.” In contrast, leaders in Moscow, Pyongyang, and Tehran lauded the event as proof that the global balance of power is shifting eastward.

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Looking Ahead

Beijing’s showcase was not simply about the past; it was about the future. From Taiwan to the South China Sea, the ripple effects of Xi’s performance will be closely scrutinized in capitals worldwide. For allies, the parade symbolized solidarity. For rivals, it was a reminder: China intends to set the tempo of the 21st century.

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