President Donald Trump blasted the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea for ‘conspiring against the United States of America’ as they assembled to watch a massive military parade in Beijing.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the parade to mark 80 years since WWII, showcasing China’s newest high grade weapons – including a laser which experts fear could burn out electronics or even blind pilots.
The country also showcased a range of other weapons, including the D5-5C missiles and several land-based unmanned combat systems. Hypersonic missiles and submarines that can evade detection were also displayed at the event.
Xi’s guests included Vladimir Putin and North Korea‘s Kim Jong Un, who arrived earlier at the historic Tiananmen Gate to watch the parade. Kicking off the parade, Xi cautioned that the world was still ‘faced with a choice of peace or war’ before saying that China was ‘unstoppable.’
Putin and Kim put on a display of unity with Xi as they flanked him to make their way onto a viewing platform overlooking the Tiananmen Square. They paused to shake hands with five WWII veterans, some older than 100.
The summit was billed as an alternative to the US-led global system and was packed with displays of unity between Moscow, Beijing and Delhi, India.
Trump slammed the gathering in a Truth Social post on Tuesday night, asking Xi to ‘please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.’ The Kremlin has since hit back at his comments.
He questioned whether Xi ‘will mention the massive amount of support and ”blood” that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader.
Before Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem
Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted the parade to mark 80 years since WWII , showcasing China’s newest high grade weapons – including a laser which experts fear could burn out electronics or even blind pilots
China also displayed its unmanned ship-based helicopters
China brought out its nuclear weapons to flex its military dominance
The laser weapons and HQ-16C missiles on display as a crowd takes photographs
China’s land-based unmanned combat formation passing through Tian’anmen Square during the parade
China’s military was on hand to show its might in a display of force against the west
‘Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!’
Trump signed off with a warm message, writing: ‘May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.’
The Kremlin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, responded to Trump’s message saying: ‘I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies. No one even had such a thought – none of these three leaders had such a thought.’
He added: ‘I can say that everyone understands the role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally in the current international situation.’
Before Xi spoke, the ceremony began with an 80-gun artillery salute to mark the 80 years since the end of the war, followed by the national anthem.
Troops marched in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, as Xi, who is also head of China‘s military as chairman of the Central Military Commission, watched on.
Xi started his brief address by remembering the victims of the war and called for eradication of the roots of war to prevent history from repeating itself.
The parade showcased missiles, modern fighter jets and other military might as China seeks to wield greater influence on the global stage. Some of the military hardware is on public view for the first time.
YJ-20 missiles were wheeled out in a show of China’s military capabilities
DF-17 hypersonic missiles were also on display, in a show of China’s military strength
Members of China’s army stand as HSU100 unmanned underwater vehicles are displayed
China’s military also brought out the HQ-22A defence system
Chinese President Xi Jinping watches the military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender
China has developed several airbone unmanned systems
Z-20 helicopters flying in the sky during the huge ceremony
Chinese troops with high-tech gear mounted on next gen armoured vehicles in Beijing
Cameras at the ready for the arrival of Xi Jinping to review the troops
Read More
Could NATO stand up to President Xi’s ‘Axis of Upheaval’?
This includes the LY-1 laser weapon which was fitted out on top of an eight-wheeler HZ-155 armoured truck.
Defence analyst Alexander Neill told the BBC the laser is so powerful it could be used to blind pilots and disable electronics.
Enormous submarine-like unmanned drones were also rolled out, which can travel up to 20m underwater.
Finally, nuclear-capable missiles were also touted at the parade, serving as a warning shot to the West.
The missiles have the potential to be launched from guided-missile destroyers and China’s dominant naval fleet.
Land missiles were simultaneously displayed, and state-run media Xinhua said the long-range missiles ‘for the first time, demonstrated the ‘three-in-one’ strategic nuclear force of our army’s land, sea and air bases.
‘It is a strategic ”trump card” to safeguard national sovereignty and defend national dignity,’ the agency wrote.
A member of the army standing in front of D5-5C nuclear missiles
A drone boat seen at the parade in Beijing
The JL-3, China’s third-generation intercontinental-range submarine is said to offer reduced detectability
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (C) leave after their meeting in Beijing on September 3, 2025
Critics say the West is ‘worried’ about the powerful YJ-17
Troops marched in rhythmic lockstep, their boots echoing off the pavement, as Xi, who is also head of China’s military as chairman of the Central Military Commission, watched on
The parade also showed off the AMB012 underwater weapons during the military parade
J-15 flew over the event to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two
Armoured vehicles being driven by the People’s Liberation Army Ground Assault Force
It comes just a day after Trump also slammed India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was seen holding hands with Putin at an anti-NATO summit in China
On the international stage, the military parade is a show of strength from the Communist Party and its leader and a way to portray itself as a global alternative to the American-dominated postwar era.
Domestically, the commemoration of the anniversary is a way to show how far China has come.
China was a major front in the war, a fact often overlooked in accounts that focus more on the fight for Europe and U.S. naval battles in the Pacific. A Japanese invasion before the war and the conflict itself killed millions of Chinese people.
‘The Chinese nation is the great nation that is never intimidated by any bullies,’ Xi said ahead of the parade.
It comes just a day after Trump also slammed India‘s Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he was seen holding hands with Putin at an anti-NATO summit in China.
Modi gave the military parade a miss on Tuesday, but had earlier spent hours cosying up to both Putin and Xi.
India, along with China, are the two biggest buyers of Russian oil, a crucial source of revenue for Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The president hit India with 50 percent tariffs on some goods in retaliation, accusing Delhi of bankrolling Putin’s war effort, but so far neither India nor China has shown any sign of cutting energy imports from Russia.
A Chinese officer salutes during the procession displaying China’s military might
A sea of troops during the march in Beijing on Wednesday from a Kremlin press office handout
Beijing took the opportunity to show off its unmanned aerial vehicles in a show of power
Chinese soldiers carry assault rifles with optical zooms during the procession on Wednesday
Balloons and doves are released into the sky above the crowds
Crowds at Tiananmen Square witnessed a flyover from the air echelon
Chinese troops march in formation during Wednesday’s parade in Beijing, China
Chinese military band members perform ahead of Wednesday’s grand parade
Initially, the president had levied a 25 percent ‘reciprocal’ tariff on India, as with many nations.
The Russian president and the Indian prime minister beamed as they strolled into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation talks in Tianjin, where Xi hosted more than 20 non-Western leaders.
The three leaders were later seen laughing together in a huddle in what appeared to be a show of solidarity against Washington and its allies.
