Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a significant military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. This event featured the participation of leaders from 26 countries, showcasing a display of military strength alongside a strong show of international solidarity among nations aligned with Beijing.
Flanking Xi on the viewing platform overlooking Tiananmen Square were Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, both of whom made notable appearances, signaling a unified front against Western powers, particularly the United States. Observers noted that the absence of leaders from the US, Western Europe, Japan, and India highlighted a growing divide in international relations.
The guest list illustrated Beijing’s expanding influence in the Global South and emerging economies. Among the attendees were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, underscoring the presence of US adversaries at the event. As they ascended the stairs to the viewing platform, Putin and Kim engaged in animated conversation with Xi.
Asian leaders constituted a significant portion of the attendees. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who had initially canceled his trip due to domestic protests, ultimately attended alongside Southeast Asian leaders, including Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Military leader of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith were also present.
From South Asia, Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu participated. Central Asian leaders included Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, and Serdar Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan. Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, President of Mongolia, also attended.
Notably, the only leader from the Americas was Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel. The attendance list further included Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. While many leaders from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) were present, India and Turkey notably missed the event.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared positive sentiments on social media regarding his discussions with Xi and Putin, highlighting a meeting with Putin as “insightful” and a gathering with Xi as “fruitful.”
Few European leaders attended; Serbia sent President Aleksandar Vucic, a supporter of Russia, while Slovakia was represented by Prime Minister Robert Fico. Other notable attendees included former New Zealand Prime Ministers Helen Clark and John Key, along with Daniel Andrews, the former premier of Victoria, Australia.
This military parade not only commemorated a historical event but also served as a platform for China to demonstrate its geopolitical alliances amid shifting global dynamics.
