The images were clearer than ever: Chinese leader Xi Jinping appeared at a massive military parade in Beijing, flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Behind them followed about twenty other world leaders, including those from Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, and Myanmar – a visibly anti-Western front.
In Tiananmen Square, more than 50,000 people watched under Beijing’s scorching sun, as giant screens broadcast scenes of military triumph. China’s state media spread the spectacle across the nation and beyond.
“Provoking America” – The Western Response
For many Western countries, including the United States, the message was unmistakable: China is openly challenging the U.S.-led international order. American President Donald Trump reacted directly on social media:
“Please extend my warmest greetings to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” he wrote to Xi Jinping.
Though it marked the end of World War II, the parade was far more than historical commemoration. It was a display of force, a showcase of China’s growing military capabilities, and a signal of Xi’s global ambitions.
Beyond Peace – An Open Challenge to the West
Despite Beijing’s repeated claims of a “peaceful rise” and denunciations of Western “warmongering,” the event was anything but peaceful. Thousands of troops marched in perfect synchronization, while nuclear missiles, advanced underwater drones, fighter jets, and laser-based weapon systems rolled through Beijing’s streets.
A curious moment caught on open microphones revealed Xi and Putin discussing medical advances that could extend life to 150 years – a symbolic nod to the durability they envision for their grip on power.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un brought his young daughter, widely seen as his potential successor, signaling dynastic continuity within the anti-Western bloc.
Xi’s Message: The World Must Choose – Peace or War
In a speech broadcast across the square, Xi declared:
“Only when all nations and peoples treat each other as equals, coexist in peace, and support one another can we safeguard collective security and eliminate the roots of war.”
He blamed the “Cold War mentality” and “divisive practices of the West” as the root causes of today’s conflicts.
Just days earlier, Xi had wrapped up a regional summit in Tianjin, alongside leaders such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he unveiled a “Global Governance Initiative.”
This forms part of Xi’s broader agenda to reshape the international system into something he calls “more democratic” – meaning less dominated by the West and more open to the Global South.
A New World Order in the Making?
Analysts say this initiative serves a dual purpose: rallying countries that feel marginalized by the Western order, while weakening U.S. influence in areas such as trade, technology, energy, climate governance, and international security.
Such a system would directly benefit China, especially on sensitive issues like Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own and has not ruled out taking by force.
A Message for the World – and for China
Observers also stress that Wednesday’s parade was aimed inward, to bolster national pride amid slowing growth, high youth unemployment, and domestic uncertainty.
“The parade is not only about projecting strength abroad but also about fueling nationalism at home and consolidating popular support in the face of economic headwinds,” said Tong Zhao of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Long-Term Confrontation: China vs. the West
Experts warn that the world is drifting further into two opposing camps. The tightening bonds between China, Russia, North Korea, and other states hostile to the West should not be underestimated.
“Shared opposition to the United States could pave the way for deeper exchanges in weapons, trade, and technology – with the ultimate goal of undermining the U.S.-led order,” noted Edward Howell of Oxford University.
As Beijing strengthens its alliances and broadens global influence, the U.S. and its Asian allies are moving to counterbalance China’s ambitions – particularly in the South China Sea and over Taiwan.
Xi closed the day with a stark message:
“The world must choose: peace or war.”
A chilling warning – and perhaps an invitation to a new world order with China at its center.
(Source: CNN)
