What Does Xi Want to Do with Putin and Kim by Provoking Trump?

Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared at a grand military parade in Beijing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, with leaders from Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Myanmar, and nearly two dozen other countries following behind. The event, held on September 3, 2025, at Tiananmen Square, sent a clear message to the world.

Nearly 50,000 people watched the spectacle on large screens at Tiananmen Square, braving the intense heat on Wednesday. Many held small Chinese flags. The parade was broadcast live on television across China and viewed in many countries abroad. Western nations, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, interpreted this as a deliberate provocation against the United States. During the parade, Trump posted on social media: “When you are conspiring against the United States, please convey my sincere best wishes to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.” By seating Kim and Putin beside him, Xi aimed to firmly convey that the ongoing global conflicts and tensions are not the responsibility of those around him but rather the fault of the U.S.-led international order. Those who attended the parade heard the resounding shouts of thousands of trained Chinese soldiers, witnessed displays of nuclear-capable missiles, underwater drones, and fighter jets flying in formation over Beijing's "Avenue of Eternal Peace." They understood that Xi organized this to showcase military might, positioning China as an emerging alternative power in military strength and geopolitical influence. China has long promoted its rise as peaceful while criticizing the U.S. as a warmonger. However, this commemoration of the end of World War II revealed China's rapid transformation into one of the world's foremost military powers. In his speech at the parade, Xi emphasized that wars can only be eradicated from the root when all countries treat each other as equals, cooperate, and coexist peacefully, ensuring common security. Xi and his officials repeatedly pointed to the "Cold War mentality" as the root cause. Earlier in the week, at a summit in the port city of Tianjin, Xi met with regional leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and unveiled the "Global Governance Initiative." Under this initiative, Xi seeks to restructure the global system to make it more democratic. Wang Yiwei, Director of the Institute of International Relations at Renmin University of Beijing, stated that supporting the United Nations could broaden the initiative's scope. Wang further explained that the Global Governance Initiative focuses not only on security but also on economic aspects, including the SWIFT system, sanctions, trade, AI governance, ocean management, climate change, and more. It also aims to ensure greater voice and power for Global South countries in the UN. Observers note that Xi's initiative has two main objectives: to serve as a rallying point for countries under pressure from Western powers, and to dilute U.S. influence by distributing it among Chinese allies. This could help build a world order where national development is prioritized over individual human rights concepts, and no U.S.-led alliance can constrain China's ambitions. The missiles displayed at the parade are capable of striking any part of the world and can evade advanced air defense systems using hypersonic technology. China's combat drones and laser weapons make it difficult for regional rivals to counter Chinese forces. In this context of military display, Xi addressed the gathered crowd at Tiananmen Square, urging the world to make a simple choice: peace or war.