China’s Military Parade: A Display of Power or a Direct Warning to Washington?

Sergey Radchenko, a leading expert in international relations and Distinguished Professor Wilson E. Schmidt at the A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

According to Rokna, citing Foreign Policy, performers in elaborate costumes energetically paraded on stage while nearly 30 world leaders watched with serious expressions. Tianjin hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, but attendees were not merely participating in a meeting—they were present at a carefully orchestrated ceremony. The presence of these leaders carried a clear message: China aims to present itself as the center of the non-Western world.

Xi Jinping used the occasion to emphasize multipolarism and to criticize the West, highlighting the need to combat “Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying behavior” while advocating “justice and fairness.” Other leaders, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, echoed similar themes of security, connectivity, and opportunity, with Putin notably softening his criticism of Washington.

Xi also introduced his latest “Global Governance Plan”, building on the 2022 Global Security Initiative and the 2023 Global Civilization Initiative. While some leaders returned home afterward, others traveled to Beijing to witness the second phase: a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The parade’s message was unmistakable: in this arena, there will be losers, but China will not be one of them. Observers included Putin, Iranian Parliament Speaker Masoud Pezeshkian, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Speaking in a commanding tone, Xi declared: “The Chinese nation is a great nation unafraid of violence.” He called on his people to march resolutely along the path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and to inherit and preserve the spirit of wartime resistance against Japan. Jets roared across the sky as tanks, armored personnel carriers, laser weapons, and nuclear missiles passed the reviewing stand, all clearly labeled in English for international observers. The military orchestra’s pounding rhythm underscored China’s shift from Daoist philosophies to Maoist doctrine: a tangible reminder to the world, especially the United States, that Beijing’s rise to global prominence is built on steel, armor, and disciplined troops.

The parade’s message resonated globally. Former U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted a sarcastic remark: “May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.”