• China hosts its largest military parade on September 3, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend, highlighting China's rising geopolitical alliances.
• President Xi Jinping emphasizes a global choice between peace and war during his keynote address.
• The event showcases advanced military technology, including hypersonic missiles and drones.
• Western leaders largely absent, indicating geopolitical divides in the contemporary landscape.

China held its largest-ever military parade on September 3, 2025, in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. This monumental event is characterized by its display of military power as President Xi Jinping aims to position China as a key player in a post-U.S. international order. Xi, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, marks a significant diplomatic moment with the presence of over 20 world leaders at Tiananmen Square, largely shunned by Western officials due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, according to Reuters and CBS News.

The parade began at 9 a.m. local time and featured more than 50,000 spectators, showcasing a host of modern military equipment, including hypersonic weapons and unmanned drones. Xi is expected to review the troops while addressing themes of national pride and military modernization, highlighting China’s evolution since World War II as it overcame Japan’s invasion. This sentiment has been promoted by extensive state media coverage preceding the event, according to Reuters and BBC.

In his speech, Xi articulated a choice facing the world: “peace or war, dialogue or confrontation,” a message directed, in part, at the United States amid ongoing tensions over trade policies and military posturing. The parade follows a recent summit where Xi outlined his vision for a new global order, emphasizing multilateral diplomacy among non-Western countries, which stands in contrast to Western hegemonism, as reported by CBS News and Reuters.

The presence of both Putin and Kim at this historic parade is particularly significant, as it symbolizes deepening military and energy ties among these nations, with analysts suggesting this could alter the military calculus in the Asia-Pacific region. Putin's visit has already contributed to broader energy collaboration, while Kim gains implicit support for North Korea's controversial nuclear weapons program, as discussed by Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

As the parade proceeded with strict security protocols and closures impacting daily life in Beijing, the event culminated a series of rehearsals aimed at ensuring a flawless performance. Local Party members and volunteers worked diligently to monitor for any possible unrest, reflecting the Chinese government's efforts to maintain stability and control, according to Reuters and India Times.