By Focus and AFP | 2025-09-03

BEIJING -- Beijing staged a massive military parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, with Chinese President Xi Jinping declaring that China was "unstoppable" as he presided over his third grand review of troops at Tiananmen Square.

Attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the event was meant to combine historical commemoration, military might and showcasing of China's capabilities and political alliances.

'Sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity'

"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, and the noble cause of human peace and development is bound to prevail," said Xi.

Although he did not specifically mention Taiwan, which China considers its own, he did call on his forces to "resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity."

This year's event marked Xi's third time reviewing troops from atop Tiananmen Gate since taking office. Unlike a decade earlier, when Xi used the 2015 parade to announce a 300,000-troop cut and pledged that China would "never seek hegemony," his 2025 address offered no such conciliatory gestures.

Instead, it highlighted a decade of sweeping military reforms that have seen the People's Liberation Army (PLA) streamlined into five theater commands, hundreds of senior officers purged and the defense budget expand by more than 70%.

Trio in focus

What captured international headlines was the unprecedented sight of Xi flanked by Putin and Kim as they walked down a red carpet before the parade began. State television showed the three men shaking hands and chatting, a tableau laden with symbolism during their countries' deepening confrontation with the West.

It was the first time Kim had appeared publicly with Xi and Putin together, and only his second known trip abroad in six years.

"China ... shows that it has convening power and political influence to bring Putin and Kim Jong Un together," said Lam Peng Er of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore.

Altogether, 26 foreign leaders attended the parade, most from Central Asia and Southeast Asia. The turnout of Southeast Asian heads of state was unusually high, reflecting Beijing's push to strengthen ties in its southern neighborhood amid maritime disputes.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto initially said he would skip the event because of unrest at home, but unexpectedly landed in Beijing in the early hours of September 3, joining the ceremonies.

Western leaders were conspicuously absent.

Missiles, drones and lasers

The 90-minute parade touted some of China's most advanced weaponry.

State media described the display as evidence of the PLA's modernization drive, while foreign defense analysts scrutinized each piece of hardware.

The surprise unveiling of the DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) quickly became the top trending topic on Chinese social media.

Its range and payload remain undisclosed.

The parade also showcased the DF-5C ICBM, described by the Global Times as capable of striking "anywhere on Earth" and standing guard to deter war.

Other displays included new antiship missiles (YJ-15 to YJ-20), advanced underwater drones like the HSU100, the LY-1 laser air defense platform and the HQ-29 "satellite hunter." Entire formations of unmanned land, sea and air systems underscored China's push into drone warfare.

Nationalism and legitimacy

While the parade commemorated China's resistance against Japan in World War II, critics said the spectacle was less about history than about political messaging.

The Communist Party presents itself as the savior of the nation in wartime, while playing down the decisive role of the Kuomintang (Nationalist) army in many battles, others noted.

The Kuomintang Party ruled China from 1928 to 1949 before losing the Chinese civil war and fleeing to Taiwan.

Adding to the political sensitivities, former Kuomintang Party chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu journeyed from Taiwan for the parade.

Her presence at the event drew attention in Taiwan. Its government had banned officials from going.