Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at China’s Victory Parade in Beijing on Wednesday, marking a historic first trilateral appearance of the three leaders.
The parade, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, comes just days after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. Several foreign dignitaries, including Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, joined the event.
Kim’s First Major Multinational Appearance
For Kim Jong Un, this parade marks a symbolic milestone — his first multinational event since taking over from his father in 2011. While he and Xi have met bilaterally before, Wednesday’s event marked the first public setting where the three leaders — Xi, Putin, and Kim — stood side by side.
US Tensions and Trump’s Reaction
The rare display of unity between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang comes at a time of heightened tensions with Washington. US President Donald Trump reacted swiftly, accusing the trio of plotting against America.
“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Xi Jinping’s Message: ‘China Not Intimidated’
Speaking at Tiananmen Square, Xi emphasised China’s resilience, invoking the sacrifices of Chinese people during World War II.
“The Chinese nation is never intimidated by any bullies and always forges ahead,” Xi declared, reiterating his earlier remarks from the SCO Summit against “bullying behaviour” and “cold war mentality.”
Xi urged solidarity among SCO members, highlighting the need to counter external pressures — a thinly veiled reference to US policies in Asia.
Significance of the Victory Parade
The parade commemorated the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, highlighting China’s narrative of wartime resilience. The last time Beijing hosted a similar parade was in 2015, marking the 70th anniversary.
This year’s parade, however, gained additional geopolitical weight, given the rare convergence of Xi, Putin, and Kim against the backdrop of strained US-China and US-Russia ties.
