China's massive military parade and national capability demonstration.

China’s President Xi Jinping marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a massive military parade in Beijing, showcasing advanced weaponry and a resolute message that China will not be intimidated on the world stage . Flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Tiananmen Square, Xi declared that the Chinese nation “is never intimidated by any bullies” – a pointed warning to any power challenging China’s sovereignty. The extravagant display, featuring fighter jets, missiles and tens of thousands of troops, underscored China’s “unstoppable” rise and determination to assert its interests despite Western skepticism . Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted by accusing Xi of ignoring America’s WWII role and mockingly sending regards to Putin and Kim “as you conspire against The United States” , reflecting the deepening divide in perceptions of China’s growing clout.

Historical Legacy and National Resolve

The timing and theme of the parade were carefully chosen to stir patriotic fervor. By commemorating the end of World War II – specifically China’s victory over Japan – Xi’s government sought to draw a straight line between past and present struggles. Official propaganda has been recasting war history to accentuate China’s own sacrifice and victory while minimizing the United States’ role . This narrative frames the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as the nation’s savior against foreign aggression, thereby rallying the public around Xi’s leadership. In his address, Xi invoked the wartime spirit, urging people to recall how China “united in resistance” when faced with a life-and-death struggle between justice and evil decades ago, implicitly comparing it to today’s choice between “peace or war, dialogue or confrontation” . He vowed that China will always stand on the “right side of history” and never again yield to external intimidation . Analysts note that this historical messaging serves a strategic purpose: Xi and like-minded leaders view the WWII victory as unfinished, believing Western “hegemonic forces” still seek to impose foreign models and block China’s rightful place in the world . By weaponizing collective memory of resistance and triumph, Xi is both instilling younger generations with loyalty and legitimating a new international order on China’s terms . At home, the grand narrative of national rejuvenation – encapsulated in Xi’s proclamation that “the Chinese people’s rejuvenation cannot be blocked” – helps shore up support for the CCP amid economic uncertainties and rising tensions with Washington. The Victory Day spectacle thus reinforced unity and resolve, reminding 1.4 billion citizens that their country, under the Party’s guidance, overcame past oppression and will likewise overcome present challenges

Showcasing Modern Military Might

The parade itself was an elaborate show of force and precision. Over 10,000 troops marched in lockstep past Xi, their ranks punctuated by columns of tanks and missile launchers . Xi, clad in a Mao-style suit, rode in a domestically-made “Red Flag” limousine to review the formations, greeting soldiers with shouts of “Greetings, comrades!” as helicopter squadrons traced the number “80” in the sky to mark the anniversary . The ceremony opened with an 80-gun salute and culminated in the release of 80,000 doves and 80,000 balloons – a choreographed tribute to 80 years since victory . For roughly 90 minutes, waves of personnel and equipment filed past Tiananmen Square in a meticulously rehearsed spectacle of nationalism and modernity.

Key Military Highlights

China took the opportunity to unveil some of its most advanced weaponry, much of it displayed publicly for the first time:

Nuclear Triad Unveiled: For the first time, China showcased all three legs of its nuclear deterrent – missiles launchable from land, air, and sea – together. On display were new or upgraded strategic missiles including the Dongfeng-31 and DF-61 road-mobile ICBMs for land, the Julang-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile for sea, and the air-launched long-range “Jinglei-1” missile . This complete nuclear “triad” signals Beijing’s ability to respond to threats on multiple fronts and “safeguard the country’s sovereignty and dignity,” as state media put it .

Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missiles: Among the arsenal were the latest Yingji-series (“YJ”) hypersonic anti-ship missiles – YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 – designed to strike moving warships at extreme speeds. China has reportedly tested these weapons against mock-ups of U.S. aircraft carriers , a pointed message to the U.S. Navy’s presence in the Asia-Pacific. Such “carrier-killer” missiles could threaten adversary fleets far from China’s shores.

Unmanned Drones and Underwater Vehicles: The PLA’s emphasis on unmanned systems was evident. The parade included novel unmanned aerial vehicles and drones – including drone helicopters meant to launch from ships – as well as torpedo-shaped underwater drones that can operate below the waves . These systems, intended for reconnaissance and precision strikes, demonstrate China’s expanding reach in intelligence gathering and asymmetric warfare.

Laser and Electronic Warfare Systems: Not just kinetic weapons were featured. China also displayed high-tech anti-drone defenses, such as portable laser guns and high-power microwave devices, forming a triad of directed-energy weapons to counter unmanned threats . This indicates a focus on electronic and cyber warfare capabilities alongside traditional hardware.

Next-Generation Battle Tanks and Units: On the ground, new armored vehicles like the Type-100 main battle tank debuted, reportedly bristling with cutting-edge systems including active protection and even onboard drones for battlefield awareness . The parade also introduced newly formed units for domains like cyberspace, outer space, and information warfare – underlining the PLA’s drive to compete in advanced technological arenas.

Military analysts viewed this array of weaponry as a broad message of deterrence to China’s rivals. The breadth and sophistication of systems – from carrier-targeting missiles to drone swarms and cyber units – would make any potential intervention in China’s neighborhood far more challenging. “China was sending a message of technological advance and military strength on all fronts – there is indeed a lot for rival defense planners to get their heads around,” observed Alexander Neill, a Singapore-based security expert . The comprehensive anti-ship and drone capabilities unveiled could create zones that “external navies couldn’t even enter to intervene” in a conflict, one analyst noted, alluding to U.S. forces in the Western Pacific . In particular, the combination of new hypersonic missiles and sea drones would greatly complicate any U.S. attempt to reinforce allies or Taiwan by sea . While some of China’s prototype weapons may not yet be fully battle-tested, the display nonetheless demonstrated that the People’s Liberation Army is rapidly closing the technology gap with Western militaries. “Western militaries may still have an operational edge, but there is no doubt China is wanting to show it is rapidly catching up,” Neill said, highlighting the high degree of innovation on show . The parade’s message was clear: China’s military modernization has reached new heights, and Beijing wants the world – and especially Washington – to take note.

Global Alignments and Strategic Signaling

Equally striking was the roster of international guests assembled for the event. Xi stood flanked by Putin and Kim – a tableau of three nuclear-armed leaders united in their opposition to U.S. primacy . It was the first time a North Korean leader had attended a Chinese military parade in 66 years (the last was Kim Il Sung in 1959), underscoring a renewed closeness between Beijing and Pyongyang . In total, Xi welcomed delegations from over two dozen countries, including Russia, North Korea, Iran, Pakistan and a host of Central and Southeast Asian nations . This “guest list” pointedly excluded any major Western heads of state – in fact, only two leaders from Europe (the pro-Moscow heads of Serbia and Slovakia) were in attendance . Most Western democracies declined to send representatives, a reflection of the deep geopolitical rift and wariness toward China’s direction.

The high-profile presence of Putin and Kim – both treated as guests of honor on the Tiananmen rostrum – sent a defiant geopolitical message. By convening this group of authoritarian and non-Western leaders, Xi signaled the formation of an informal bloc aligned against what they view as Western hegemony . “The Chinese nation is never intimidated by any bullies and always forges ahead,” Xi proclaimed, words aimed as much at Washington as at his own people . The parade thus doubled as a diplomatic show of force: a very public affirmation that China has powerful friends standing by its side and shared resolve to counter U.S. pressure. As one analysis put it, the spectacle of these like-minded leaders gathered around Xi highlighted his drive to present China as a “formidable” rival to the United States – and to validate his vision of a revised world order no longer dominated by the West .

U.S. officials watched the gathering with concern. Trump’s quips on social media belied a broader unease in Washington about China’s tightening bonds with Russia and North Korea. (Kim’s China visit also grabbed attention for possibly facilitating arms deals with Russia, even as Moscow wages war in Ukraine – a sign of how these relationships may bolster each other against Western sanctions and isolation.) Still, American commentators were quick to point out that China’s partners at the parade, while notable, form a loose coalition rather than a formal alliance, and that the United States retains far more capable allies globally. Xi, for his part, took care in his speech to avoid directly naming the U.S., even offering thanks to unspecified “foreign countries” that aided China in WWII . This suggests Beijing is balancing its triumphant messaging with a degree of caution to avoid outright provocation. Yet the underlying intent was clear: by gathering what some have called an emerging “axis” of anti-Western states in Beijing, Xi demonstrated that China is no longer isolated – it is leading a cadre of nations prepared to question, and if necessary, defy the U.S.-led international order.

Conclusion

Xi’s Victory Day parade delivered a multifaceted message. To the Chinese public, it was a moment of pride – a reminder of past glories and a demonstration of how far the nation’s military has come under Communist Party rule . To the outside world, it was a bold statement that China will defend its sovereignty and interests, backed by formidable capabilities and willing partners. Beijing’s narrative is that this show of force was not provocatively aimed at war, but at preventing one: a deterrent display to ensure China “cannot be bullied” or contained by foreign powers. Chinese officials have brushed off Western criticism of the parade as “nothing but sour grapes,” insisting that the event’s purpose was to honor history and inspire national rejuvenation . Xi struck a confident tone that China’s rise is peaceful yet unstoppable – urging the nation to “stand on the right side of history” and proclaiming that the Chinese people’s rejuvenation “cannot be blocked” and the goal of peaceful development “must triumph”.

By orchestrating a spectacle of unity and strength, Xi Jinping intended to send a clear signal: China has both the memory and the muscle to assert its place in the world, and it will not be cowed by past or present superpowers. The 80th anniversary celebration doubled for China as a declaration that a new chapter in the global balance of power is underway – one written in distinctly Chinese terms, with confidence, caution, and an unmistakable call for respect.