Beijing is preparing for a spectacle that the world will be watching closely—and not just for the military hardware on display. On September 3, 2025, the Chinese capital’s iconic Tiananmen Square will host a grand military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. But this year, the event’s significance extends far beyond historical remembrance: it marks the first public appearance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling a bold show of unity among three countries facing mounting Western pressure.
According to China’s Foreign Ministry, a total of 26 foreign heads of state and government will be present at the so-called “Victory Day” parade. While the roster of attendees reads like a who’s who of the Global South and Eurasian politics, it’s equally notable for the absence of Western leaders. The lone exception is Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is set to become the only European Union leader in attendance. As reported by multiple outlets, this gathering underscores Beijing’s growing military confidence and its increasingly close alignment with both Russia and North Korea—two states that have grown more isolated on the world stage in recent years.
The parade itself promises to be a meticulously choreographed affair. Tens of thousands of Chinese troops will march in formation, while the sky above will thunder with the roar of state-of-the-art fighter jets. On the ground, spectators can expect to see advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and sophisticated missile defense systems—a clear demonstration of China’s technological and military prowess. President Xi will personally review the formations, flanked by visiting dignitaries, in a scene designed to project China’s status as a leading military power at the heart of global geopolitics.
For Vladimir Putin, the event carries particular weight. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has been hit with repeated rounds of Western sanctions, pushing its economy toward the brink of recession. According to reports from BBC and other international outlets, Russia’s economic woes have only deepened as its international isolation has grown. This Beijing visit marks Putin’s first trip to China since 2024, and the Kremlin has called the occasion “unprecedented.” For the Russian leader, the parade offers a rare opportunity to step outside his pariah status in the West and appear on the world stage among friendly powers.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s presence is also loaded with symbolism. Kim was personally invited by President Xi to join the parade, a gesture that Chinese officials say reflects North Korea’s status as a “friendly neighbor” and highlights the two countries’ shared history of fighting in World War II. Kim’s last visit to Beijing was in January 2019 for talks with Xi, and since the pandemic, he has only left North Korea once—for a 2023 summit with Putin in Russia’s Far East. As DW notes, this may be Kim’s first time meeting multiple world leaders at once, and analysts believe he is eager to boost his global stature and signal that Pyongyang has powerful allies.
North Korea remains under heavy international sanctions, imposed by the United Nations since 2006 over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. However, the effect of these sanctions has weakened in recent years as Pyongyang has deepened its military and economic ties with both Moscow and Beijing. Some experts suggest that Kim’s visit to China is also tied to efforts to revive diplomacy with former US President Donald Trump, who has frequently emphasized his relationship with the North Korean leader and voiced hopes of resuming talks. So far, however, Pyongyang has rejected Trump’s outreach, choosing instead to focus on its relationships with China and Russia.
Other notable leaders expected to attend the parade include Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Iranian President Masoud Pezashkian, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. The United Nations will also be represented by Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, a seasoned Chinese diplomat. Their presence further highlights the event’s significance as a gathering point for nations outside the Western sphere of influence.
The timing of the parade is no accident. As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, particularly between China and the United States, the event is designed to signal not just solidarity among China, Russia, and North Korea, but also Beijing’s willingness to stand at the center of a broader coalition of partners across the Global South. Analysts say the spectacle is intended to send a message of strength and unity to both domestic and international audiences, at a moment when the world order is in flux.
For Putin, attending the parade is also a chance to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, which runs from August 31 to September 1, 2025. The SCO summit brings together leaders from across Eurasia and offers Russia an additional platform to showcase its diplomatic ties beyond the West. The Kremlin has described Putin’s upcoming visit to China as “unprecedented,” underscoring the importance Moscow places on its relationship with Beijing.
Meanwhile, for Kim Jong Un, the trip is an opportunity to demonstrate that North Korea is not as isolated as Western policymakers might hope. By appearing alongside Xi and Putin, Kim can show his domestic audience—and the world—that Pyongyang still has influential friends. At the same time, the visit could help North Korea seek economic support from China, especially as the limits of its partnership with Russia become more apparent, particularly if the war in Ukraine ends or shifts in character.
China, for its part, is keen to emphasize its role as a stabilizing force and a champion of multipolarity in international affairs. By hosting such a high-profile event and welcoming leaders who are often shunned by the West, Beijing is making a clear statement about its global ambitions and its willingness to challenge the existing international order. The parade, with its pageantry and displays of advanced weaponry, is as much about projecting power as it is about commemorating the past.
As the world watches the events in Beijing unfold, the message is unmistakable: the alliances and rivalries that define global politics are shifting, and the parade at Tiananmen Square is both a symbol and a catalyst for those changes. The presence of Putin, Kim, and Xi side by side is a powerful image—one that will reverberate far beyond the parade grounds, shaping perceptions and policies for years to come.
While the pageantry may dazzle, the underlying currents of cooperation and competition are what truly matter. As the dust settles on Tiananmen Square, the world will be left to ponder what this new alignment means for the future of international relations—and whether the unity on display is built to last.
