China parade brings Xi, Putin, Kim together; Trump alleges conspiracy against US

China hosted a military parade on Sep 3 in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The event was attended by President Xi Jinping, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un serving as guests of honour. This marked a rare public appearance of the three leaders together.

The parade displayed advanced military hardware, including stealth aircraft, hypersonic missiles, drone countermeasures, and contributions to a nuclear triad, along with thousands of troops and cutting-edge equipment.

In his address during the parade, Xi declared that the world faced a choice "between peace or war" and that China would not be intimidated by bullying and called it “unstoppable.”

North Korea’s presence was particularly notable. Kim Jong Un made his first international appearance in celebration of a Chinese military event, accompanied by his daughter—an unusual public appearance that fuels speculation about her future political visibility.

Following the parade, Kim and Putin held a private bilateral meeting. In that meeting, Kim pledged support for Russia, stating he would assist “with everything,” and Putin acknowledged North Korea’s military contributions in the Ukraine conflict.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump reacted sharply on social media, accusing the leaders of "conspiring against the United States" and sarcastically asked Xi to "convey his warm regards" to Putin and Kim.

The event drew limited attendance from Western countries but prominent leaders from nations such as Iran, Belarus, Cuba, and others in the Global South participated, underscoring China's growing diplomatic outreach.