Humanity is faced with a choice of peace or war, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) as Beijing marked the 80th anniversary of its victory in the Second World War with a military parade presided over by Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other world leaders at the Tiananmen square.
The highly choreographed show of strength by China’s People’s Liberation Army also witnessed the unveiling of a host of weapons, including nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles.
People wave flags ahead of a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
The events began with Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, greeting the world leaders. Mr. Kim and Mr. Putin were the last to be greeted, with the latter getting a pat on the back from Mr. Xi. The delegation walked to the Tiananmen Gate with the Russian and North Korean Leaders flanking the Chinese President and engaging in conversations along the way.
Most of the world leaders had stayed back after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin over the weekend, while Mr. Kim arrived on Tuesday evening with his daughter, whose details, such as name and age, are being kept private. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived early morning on Wednesday after his trip was initially put on hold over riots in his country.
The PLA started the parade with an 80-gun salute and hoisted the Chinese flag. Mr. Xi rode through the entire length of the military formation in an open car, greeting the personnel.
Among the nuclear-capable missiles unveiled at the parade was the DF-61, a new ICBM capable of being launched from a mobile platform. While few details are available on its range and other capabilities, its predecessor has a range of more than 12,000 kilometres. The air-launched JL-1 and submarine-launched JL-3 missiles completed Beijing’s display of nuclear capabilities across land, air, and sea.
Long-range hypersonic anti-ship missiles YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 were also unveiled at the event. Naval interceptors HQ-16C and HQ-10A were also seen at the parade. The display of strong naval capabilities could be addressed towards the U.S. Navy’s involvement in the Asia-Pacific, analysts have said.
Speaking to a radio station, U.S. President Donald Trump, following the parade, said he was “very disappointed” with Mr. Putin, as the former’s promises for peace in Ukraine remain unattained. Mr. Trump also alleged a “conspiracy” against the U.S.
“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America,” Mr. Trump wrote in a possible reference to Mr. Xi on his Truth Social site, without elaborating.
Mr. Putin and Mr. Kim also had a formal bilateral meeting after the parade, in which the Russian President praised the bravery and heroism of North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Moscow’s troops to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region.
Mr. Kim said that cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has “significantly strengthened” since the two countries signed a strategic partnership pact in June last year.
Members of the People’s Liberation Army stand as an unmanned aerial drone passes by during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
Without mentioning the war specifically, Mr. Kim stressed that “if there’s anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help.”
Mr. Kim also shook hands with South Korea’s parliament Speaker, Woo Won-shik, ahead of the parade, Mr. Woo’s office said. The Speaker has called for the resumption of dialogue between Seoul and Pyongyang after a period of particularly strained ties, but North Korea has rebuffed the offer so far.
(The writer is in China on an invitation from the China Public Diplomacy Association)
Published – September 03, 2025 06:51 am IST
