{"id":476,"date":"2025-09-02T04:02:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T04:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/xi-beijing-parade-putin-kim-china-power\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T04:02:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T04:02:21","slug":"xi-beijing-parade-putin-kim-china-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/xi-beijing-parade-putin-kim-china-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Xi\u2019s Beijing Parade Projects Power as Putin, Kim Attend"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>China will stage a large-scale military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, with Xi Jinping presiding as leaders including Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin, North Korea\u2019s Kim Jong Un, and Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian look on. The event marks the 80th anniversary of Japan\u2019s defeat in World War II and is set to showcase new weapons under tight security around Tiananmen Square.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Xi Jinping will oversee a victory parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia.<\/li>\n<li>Attendees include Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Masoud Pezeshkian, signaling deepening ties among Beijing and several authoritarian-leaning states.<\/li>\n<li>Security is heightened across the capital; rehearsals involved more than 40,000 personnel and staff.<\/li>\n<li>The parade route runs along Chang\u2019an Avenue by Tiananmen Square and the entrance to the Forbidden City.<\/li>\n<li>Expected hardware: nuclear-capable ICBMs, next-generation tanks, hypersonic anti-ship missiles, and uncrewed systems.<\/li>\n<li>Only 7 of 25 countries represented by their leaders are rated free or partly free by Freedom House, with Slovakia\u2019s Prime Minister Robert Fico a notable NATO outlier.<\/li>\n<li>Analysts say participation from 11 of China\u2019s 14 neighbors illustrates Beijing\u2019s regional pull.<\/li>\n<li>The show of force comes amid a corruption crackdown that has left top military posts reportedly vacant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Verified Facts<\/h2>\n<p>The parade commemorates the 80th anniversary of Japan\u2019s surrender in 1945 and the end of World War II in Asia. Organizers have tightened security throughout Beijing, particularly near Tiananmen Square. Rehearsals have included more than 40,000 soldiers, civilians, and staff.<\/p>\n<p>Leaders expected alongside Xi include Russia\u2019s President Vladimir Putin, North Korea\u2019s Kim Jong Un, and Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian\u2014an unusual convergence of figures rarely seen together. Also on guest lists are Myanmar\u2019s military chief Min Aung Hlaing and Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo.<\/p>\n<p>Freedom House, a Washington-based organization, assesses that only 7 of the 25 countries represented by their leaders at the parade are free or partly free. One exception is Slovakia\u2019s Prime Minister Robert Fico, a NATO leader who has cultivated closer economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing and criticized Western support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts at the Asia Society\u2019s Center for China Analysis note that leaders from 11 of the 14 countries bordering China will be represented, including Mongolia, Laos, and Nepal. They argue this highlights China\u2019s stature as a regional heavyweight.<\/p>\n<p>The parade is expected to feature nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, advanced tanks, and multiple uncrewed platforms. Observers also expect systems tailored to a Taiwan contingency, such as hypersonic anti-ship missiles aimed at complicating a U.S. naval response and drones suited for mountainous terrain.<\/p>\n<h2>Context &#038; Impact<\/h2>\n<p>The pageantry is part of a broader state-led campaign emphasizing patriotism and anti-Japanese sentiment ahead of the anniversary, including war-themed films that underscore the brutality of Imperial Japan. The Communist Party frames the commemorations as recognition of China\u2019s wartime sacrifices\u2014messaging that also reinforces the party\u2019s role in national salvation.<\/p>\n<p>Domestically, the narrative helps rally support at a time of economic strain, including youth unemployment and broader growth pressures, while internationally it revives sensitivities with Tokyo. Beijing recently protested reports that Japan asked governments in Europe and Asia not to attend the parade.<\/p>\n<p>Militarily, the display burnishes Beijing\u2019s stated goal of building a \u201cworld-class\u201d force to deter external threats and protect core interests. The Taiwan dimension looms large: the expected unveiling of anti-access systems signals continued investment in capabilities designed to raise the costs of outside intervention.<\/p>\n<p>Yet the show of strength coincides with turbulence in the military\u2019s upper ranks. After an anti-corruption drive, three of seven seats on the Communist Party\u2019s Central Military Commission reportedly remain unfilled due to arrests or disappearances\u2014an unusual backdrop for a day meant to project command and control.<\/p>\n<h2>Who\u2019s Expected: Selected Attendees<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Leader<\/th>\n<th>Country\/Role<\/th>\n<th>Status<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Xi Jinping<\/td>\n<td>China (Host)<\/td>\n<td>Presiding<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Vladimir Putin<\/td>\n<td>Russia<\/td>\n<td>Expected to attend<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kim Jong Un<\/td>\n<td>North Korea<\/td>\n<td>Expected to attend<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Masoud Pezeshkian<\/td>\n<td>Iran<\/td>\n<td>Expected to attend<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Robert Fico<\/td>\n<td>Slovakia (NATO)<\/td>\n<td>Expected to attend<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Min Aung Hlaing<\/td>\n<td>Myanmar<\/td>\n<td>Expected to attend<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Denis Sassou Nguesso<\/td>\n<td>Republic of Congo<\/td>\n<td>Expected to attend<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Official Statements &#038; Notable Remarks<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Analysts say the gathering underscores China\u2019s appeal to strongman-led governments and cements its position as the central node in an authoritarian-aligned network.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Asia Society\u2019s Center for China Analysis (paraphrased)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>At past parades, Xi greeted troops from a Red Flag limousine with a brisk \u201cGreetings, comrades!\u201d\u2014a ritual likely to be repeated.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Event protocol (historical practice)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: China\u2019s Central Military Commission<\/summary>\n<p>The Central Military Commission (CMC) is the Communist Party\u2019s top body overseeing the armed forces. It sets strategy, directs major procurements, and appoints senior commanders. Reports indicate that three of its seven seats are currently vacant amid anti-corruption probes, an unusual disruption for an institution central to command cohesion.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Final attendance lists may shift; several leaders are described as \u201cexpected,\u201d not officially confirmed by all governments.<\/li>\n<li>Specific weapons slated for public debut have not been detailed by Chinese authorities ahead of the parade.<\/li>\n<li>Reports that three of seven CMC seats are vacant rely on arrests or disappearances not fully acknowledged by Beijing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Beijing\u2019s anniversary parade is designed to rally domestic pride, signal deterrence to rivals, and spotlight China\u2019s diplomatic orbit\u2014especially among non-democratic partners. The optics are potent, even as questions linger over turbulence within the military\u2019s top ranks and the regional repercussions for Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/09\/01\/world\/asia\/china-parade-putin-kim.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/freedomhouse.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Freedom House<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/asiasociety.org\/center-for-china-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asia Society Center for China Analysis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>China will stage a large-scale military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, with Xi Jinping presiding as leaders including Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin, North Korea\u2019s Kim Jong Un, and Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian look on. The event marks the 80th anniversary of Japan\u2019s defeat in World War II and is set to showcase new weapons under tight &#8230; <a title=\"Xi\u2019s Beijing Parade Projects Power as Putin, Kim Attend\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/xi-beijing-parade-putin-kim-china-power\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Xi\u2019s Beijing Parade Projects Power as Putin, Kim Attend\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Xi\u2019s Parade in Beijing: Putin, Kim Attend - World Brief","rank_math_description":"China marks the 80th anniversary of Japan\u2019s defeat with a tightly choreographed parade in Beijing, new weapons on show, and leaders like Putin and Kim in attendance.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Xi Jinping, Beijing military parade, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Taiwan, hypersonic missiles","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}