Xi Declares China ‘Unstoppable’ at WWII Anniversary Parade in Beijing

Beijing, September 3:President Xi Jinping declared China’s rise “unstoppable” as he opened a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

“The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable, and humanity’s cause of peace and development will prevail,” Xi said in a nationally televised address. He warned that the world once again faces a choice between “peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win outcomes or zero-sum games.”

Xi called on nations to “eliminate the root causes of war” and uphold common security through equality, harmony, and mutual support.

Wearing a Mao-style suit, Xi welcomed around two dozen foreign dignitaries, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who made a surprise appearance despite protests at home. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended alongside his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, making her international debut. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his regards via Xi, deepening the optics of closer ties among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, mocked the event, telling Xi to “give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States.” He nevertheless downplayed the parade, insisting he maintained a “very good relationship” with Xi.

The 70-minute showcase featured aerial flyovers, marching units of the People’s Liberation Army, and cutting-edge weapons, including hypersonic missiles, unmanned drones, and next-generation tanks. Xi inspected the troops from atop Tiananmen’s Gate of Heavenly Peace, beneath a giant portrait of Mao Zedong.

Beijing went into lockdown for the spectacle, with major roads and schools closed amid sweeping security measures and weeks of midnight rehearsals. Tens of thousands of volunteers and Communist Party members were mobilized nationwide to ensure order.

Xi has repeatedly framed World War II as a pivotal chapter in China’s “great rejuvenation,” portraying the country’s resistance against Japan and alliance with the Soviet Union as precursors to its current status as a global power.

This week, Xi also outlined a vision for a new world order at a regional security summit, urging nations to resist “hegemonism and power politics,” in a veiled reference to the United States. Analysts say the parade serves as both a reminder of China’s growing military might and a message of unity between Beijing and its partners at a time of sharpening global rivalries.

“President Xi will use this opportunity to showcase how the military is clearly, unmistakably behind him,” said Sung Wen-Ti, a fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub.