September 3, 2025

China threw a spectacular military party on September 3, 2025, showcasing fresh weapons, state-of-the-art jet fighters, and cutting-edge electronic war gear — all for the 80th anniversary of its victory over Japan in World War II. This was no ordinary parade! Holding court at the famous Tiananmen Square, the stage was set for world watchers to see Chinese power in full bloom. Twenty-six top foreign leaders rained in to witness the show, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Iran’s and many others’ leaders from Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and Central Asia. Nearby neighbors Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepal’s K P Sharma Oli, and the Maldives’ Mohamed Muizzu also joined! Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan warmly welcomed these guests. Kim Jong Un’s arrival was especially dramatic, coming by train with his daughter Kim Ju Ae. This was Kim’s first visit to China since 2019 and his second overall, following rumors he wanted to loosen Beijing’s tight grip by cozying up to Putin – even reportedly sending troops to Ukraine’s battlefields. Why this big gathering? Xi, Putin, and Kim standing side by side was a thunderous message aimed squarely at the U.S. and especially Donald Trump, who tried hard to make friends with both before. The timing followed big talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with both Xi and Putin amid US tariffs on Indian oil imports from Russia. Not all was smooth sailing, though. Japan took a firm stand, urging world leaders to skip the event due to the old wounds from Japan’s wartime aggression. China angrily protested Japan’s call, showing how sensitive this anniversary remains. The Chinese military also proudly revealed weapons not shown before, claiming they rival the US arsenal. The venue, Tiananmen Square, was splendidly decorated, watched by hundreds of troops and journalists from all over, with tight security ensuring all eyes stayed on the grand spectacle. China is not just marking history; it’s flexing muscles and raising China’s global profile under Xi’s rule. So, as beats of military drums echoed through Beijing, the world saw a bold, confident China ready to shake the global stage.

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Tags: China military parade, Xi jinping, Vladimir putin, Kim jong un, World war ii anniversary, International diplomacy,