China Hosts Military Parade Marking WWII Anniversary with Global Leaders

On September 3, 2025, China held a military parade in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event was attended by leaders from over 25 countries, highlighting China's growing diplomatic influence.

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted the parade, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un flanking him on the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square. Their joint appearance was seen by observers as a demonstration of unity among nations often at odds with the United States.

Other notable attendees included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Leaders from Southeast Asia, such as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, also participated. Representatives from Central Asia, including the presidents of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, were present, as well as leaders from Africa and the Americas, such as Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

In contrast, leaders from the United States, Western Europe, Japan, and India did not attend the event, with some countries sending lower-level officials. This absence underscored the geopolitical divides and China's strengthening ties with nations in the Global South and emerging economies.

The parade showcased China's military advancements, featuring displays of hypersonic missiles, underwater drones, and intercontinental ballistic missiles, with fighter jets and helicopters performing overhead. President Xi emphasized China's strength and self-reliance, positioning the country as a stabilizing force on the global stage.