China is preparing for the colossal military parade that is to be held on September 3, 2025, in the famous Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The parade is called ‘Victory Day Parade‘ and is held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II alongside the People’s War of Resistance Against Japan.
We can expect to see President Xi Jinping reviewing the troops alongside special guests like President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.
The purpose of this military parade is to highlight China’s achievements in the past decades, therefore it is expected to be one of the largest military parades China has held in years, displaying advanced fighter jets, missile defense systems, and hypersonic weapons.
A Uniting China, Russia, and North Korea
Although the parade will showcase China’s military arsenal, it is aimed to strengthen international relations too. The presence of Xi Jinping, Putin, and Kim Jong Un at the military parade would illustrate the deepening ties of China and Russia as well as North Korea. The three leaders attending the parade will further accentuate the growing alliance while under the pressure of the West.
Not even leaders from the United States or other major Western European nations will be attending the military parade, with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico being the only representative from the West.
The absence of these leaders certainly highlights the intense scrutiny of the military parade, especially considering the diplomatic isolation that Russia and North Korea are facing, in contrast to how these nations are being showcased during the Beijing stage.
Political Significance of the Military Parade
The military parade serves several political objectives:
Strengthening Alliances: It reinforces the China-Russia-North Korea axis. North Korea’s attendance—with Kim’s first multilateral appearance since 2011—signifies a warming of relations with Beijing and Moscow.
Geopolitical Messaging: The military parade clearly projects sovereignty and defiance, especially amid Western sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine conflict and North Korea due to its nuclear arms program.
Technological Display: As a further demonstration of military power, China is exhibiting its hypersonic weapons and advanced missile systems during the parade, which serves the dual purpose of demonstrating the might of the Chinese military.
Foreign Guests and the Political Scene
As the official host, China anticipates over 26 foreign leaders to participate in the military parade ceremony. Some of the notable attendees are:
- President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko
- Iran’s President, Masoud Pezashkian
- Indonesian President, Prabowo Subianto
- South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker, Woo Won-shik
- President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic
- And a UN representative, Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua
After the SCO summit in Tianjin where Chinese and Indian leaders and others meet, the military parade is positioned highlighting China’s use of these regional gatherings to boost its narrative of the Global South’s unity.
China and the Memories of its People
For China, the narrative of the military parade is more than just an event to showcase military prowess. It is a reminder of decades of suffering the nation endured from Japanese forces during the 1930s and 1940s. In this sense, the military parade is an event to consolidate national identity and collective memory. In his speech, Xi heightens the national pride and reinforces the historical reasons to strengthen China’s narrative.
What Should You Anticipate on Parade Day
For attendees of the spectacle on September 3, 2025, here’s the scheduled program of events:
- An elaborately scheduled military parade throughout Tianamen Square
- Troop inspection and formation by Xi, joined by Putin, Kim, and other world leaders
- Hypersonic missiles, advanced missiles, and fighter jets showcased in a military technology spectacle
- Politics and pomp, punctuated with eye-catching speeches reinforcing China’s narrative of fortitude, oneness, and dominion
Wrap-up
To summarize, the Chinese military parade in September 3, 2025 is of great significance portraying high tension in spectacle and symbolism. It seeks to grab global attention in a blend of historical commemoration, military might, and diplomatic signaling. It will be attended by Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Xi Jinping which will turn the military parade into a powerful display of unity against Western sanctions. The lack of Western leaders only adds to the message of alternative global alignments the military parade seeks to portray.
This is one of the biggest military spectacles China is set to hold, reinforcing the claim of renewed alliances, advanced technology, and geopolitical determination. From the point of view of military defense, diplomatic relations, or even dramatic tension, the military parade is bound to be in the headlines across the world.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/27/china/china-military-parade-putin-kim-intl-hnk
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