• China held a grand military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of WWII.
• Leaders including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un attended, symbolizing geopolitical alliances.
• The event showcased advanced military hardware, including hypersonic missiles and laser weapons.
• In his speech, Xi emphasized the choice between peace and war facing humanity today.
• Western presence was minimal, indicating deepening geopolitical divides.

China staged a **grand military parade** on September 3, 2023, in Beijing to commemorate the **80th anniversary of the end of World War II**. This marked only the second **Victory Day** parade since the first in 2015, with President Xi Jinping leading the event alongside prominent global leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. The parade served as both a remembrance of wartime sacrifices and a display of China's growing military might, showcasing new-generation weapons alongside traditional displays of military power, according to channelnewsasia, indiatimes, and scmp.

The event, broadcast live, began with **a volley of gun salutes** and featured approximately **15,000 troops** along with **over 160 aircraft**. The military display included various advanced hardware such as **hypersonic missiles**, **unmanned aerial vehicles**, and even **robotic drones**. Military analysts noted that this parade highlighted China's ongoing modernization of its armed forces, with many systems presented for the first time, as reported by lemonde, aa, and latinamericareports.

President Xi delivered a **seven-minute speech**, emphasizing that the global community is faced with the "choice between **peace and war**." He portrayed China as a stabilizing force amidst global tensions, underscoring his commitment to building a community with a shared future. This rhetoric came amid ongoing conflicts around the world, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, which he referenced to highlight the need for dialogue over confrontation. Xi's remarks reflect a broader Chinese narrative of preserving sovereignty and fostering international cooperation, according to bbc and scmp.

The event attracted a substantial international presence, with over **two dozen foreign leaders** attending, including those from Iran, Pakistan, and Southeast Asian nations, indicating China's growing diplomatic influence. However, noticeably absent were most Western leaders, reflecting a **geopolitical divide** as tensions between China and the United States continue to escalate. The absence was further highlighted by **Donald Trump's remarks**, which suggested conspiratorial links between the attending leaders, reinforcing perceptions of a united front against U.S. dominance, as detailed by dawn and bbc.

Overall, the parade stands as a testament to China's military achievements and diplomatic ambitions, as various leaders praised the display while some Western analysts viewed it as a challenge to the existing world order. Responses from allied nations posited the event as a reaffirmation of global solidarity in the face of adversity, while critiques from the West underscored the conflicts of interests that shape international relations today. The contrasting perspectives highlight the complexities of global diplomacy in a time rife with tensions, according to aa, scmp, and bbc.