An Evolving Global Order – Beijing’s 2025 Victory Day Parade

By Sam Dantzler

On September 3, 2025, Beijing staged its largest military parade in years to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. President Xi Jinping presided over the event in Tiananmen Square, flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. The imagery was unmistakable: a carefully choreographed alignment of leaders who increasingly define themselves in opposition to Washington and the broader U.S.-led order.

The symbolism of the parade was just as striking as the military hardware on display. While framed by Xi as a commemoration of peace, the inclusion of Putin, isolated by the ongoing war in Ukraine, and Kim, long sanctioned for nuclear proliferation, sent a pointed message of solidarity among America’s foremost rivals. The optics underscored a broader geopolitical reality currently unfolding on the world stage. Beijing is willing to publicly embrace partners who share its interest in challenging U.S. dominance as America’s unipolar moment appears to be coming to an end. 

The military arsenal unveiled reinforced this narrative. For the first time, China showcased its full nuclear triad, alongside advanced hypersonic missiles, naval drones, and directed-energy systems. These capabilities are not only symbolic; they reflect Beijing’s rapid military modernization and its ability to project power well beyond its immediate periphery. For Washington, the message was clear. China is prepared to contest American influence across multiple domains, from the Indo-Pacific to cyberspace and beyond.

U.S. analysts will likely dismiss elements of the parade as propaganda, yet the strategic undertones cannot be ignored. By combining historical commemoration with cutting-edge demonstrations, China signaled both its global ambitions and its capacity to shape alliances outside of the Western sphere. For American policymakers, the parade serves as another reminder that great-power competition is no longer an abstract concept, it is unfolding in real time, with Beijing eager to define the terms of a new world order.