What has Happened:

• Yesterday, China held one of its largest military parades ever, with Chinese President Xi Jinping joined by many foreign leaders (several of whom are at odds with the United States) in a display of unity.
• Of note, guests at the parade included Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (this was the first time Putin, Kim, and Xi have been seen together in public).
• The “Victory Day” parade, which marks the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II, featured advanced Chinese weaponry, including fighter jets, hypersonic missiles, and drones.
• China’s military budget has roughly doubled over the past decade to around $250 billion; its stockpile of nuclear weapons is estimated to have more than doubled over the same period, and it has also built out the world’s largest naval fleet by number of vessels.
• Some of the new missiles displayed included the Dongfeng-61, which is capable of carrying multiple warheads; the Dongfeng-5C intercontinental ballistic missile, which could be launched from northern China and hit the U.S.; the Dongfeng-26D intermediate-range missile, which could hit key U.S. military bases in Guam; and hypersonic anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-17 and YJ-19, which can maneuver unpredictably to evade anti-missile systems.
• Drones and other autonomous systems were also highlighted, including the AJX-002 giant submarine drone and the GJ-11 stealth attack drone, called the “loyal wingman,” which can fly alongside a manned fighter jet and aid it in its attacks.

Why it Matters:

“As I said in last week’s ATW, the military parade was an opportunity for Beijing to demonstrate to the world the advancements of the Chinese military and its ability to project power further than ever before. They made good on their promises to unveil new battle-ready, domestically-produced equipment, including ICBMs and SLBMs, unmanned underwater and air vehicles, main battle tanks, and several air defense systems. As important as the new capabilities are, President Xi’s defiant speech and public display of unity with Russia and North Korea were meant to signal to the West, especially the United States, that Beijing will not compromise on territorial or economic issues. His comments, which failed to mention the U.S. (despite the WWII anniversary being the reason for the parade), were indicative of China’s position that it no longer just wants a seat at the geopolitical table, it wants to be at the head of the table.” – Linda Weissgold, former CIA Deputy Director for Analysis

“China’s Victory Day parade put an exclamation mark on a historic and globally significant Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. The parade signaled not only ‘peer’ military prowess, but it also defiantly challenged the ‘West’ (particularly the United States). Xi’s comments to the world were a clear declaration of China’s perceived power and a willful campaign to rebuild global institutions (with Chinese characteristics). Xi perceives this as a commitment to being on the ‘right side of history’ in a Chinese-led order. With Xi, Putin, and Kim Jong Un standing on the stage (Modi left before the military parade), it is hard to swallow a global ‘peace’ agenda. The appealing rhetoric of a new ‘peace’ by throwing off Western domination was paired with the demonstration of a full range of military capabilities that was meant to show China as a military peer to the United States. That message surely resonated with the assembled nations.” – General Michael Groen

“As others have noted, the presence of Putin and Kim was not merely ceremonial – it was a geopolitical statement. It marked Kim’s first multilateral diplomatic appearance alongside both Xi and Putin, elevating his status on the world stage. For Putin, it reinforced Russia’s pivot toward Asia amid ongoing tensions with NATO and the West. Their joint appearance with Xi sent a clear united message against Western influence and marked a challenge to the U.S.-led global order. In orchestrating this high-profile gathering and showcasing China’s military might, Xi signaled that China is not only militarily formidable, but also diplomatically influential among nations resisting Western dominance. The parade was a visual rebuke to isolationist policies and sanctions, and a reminder to the world that China is building an alternative axis of power. In my view, Xi intended to project strength, unity, and defiance – positioning China as a central pillar in a new multipolar world order, one that no longer bends to Western pressure or expectations.” – General John Evans

“The image of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Noth Korean leader Kim Jong Un standing side by side before the PLA’s colossal military parade opened the eyes of the West that a new era is taking shape. Whatever you call this Axis, it is demonstrating an alternative to the U.S.-led world order that has been in place since the end of the Cold War. Sometimes what is not seen is the most important of all and it may have been India’s Prime Minister Modi ducking out after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit and before Xi’s parade to mark 80 years since China’s victory over Japan during World War II. Where India ends up is an important challenge for the U.S. and President Trump. The U.S. has attempted to pull India from Russia’s influence, but the recent secondary tariffs are pushing India away. Xi’s intent was to show the world China’s strength. China’s economic clout is not in question, and the parade was meant to show that China’s military power is aligned with their economic power. The image shows Xi balancing China’s goal to lead the world while standing next to two of the world’s most sanctioned leaders. No country until now could challenge the U.S. in both elements of power, and China is making the case that they are ready to challenge the status quo. Many leaders are wondering whether they should align with the U.S. or China. What stands out is Xi is leading an effort to align countries around the world to counter U.S. domination.” – General Robert Walsh

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