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China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un met publicly for the first time at an event in Beijing marking 80 years since Japan’s defeat in World War Two. The event featured a large military parade showcasing China’s growing military capabilities.
President Donald Trump suggested that the meeting amounted to a conspiracy against the U.S., but the Kremlin denied this, stating no one was plotting anything. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump directed at Xi: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America.”
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said that Trump’s statement may have been ironic. The event was largely shunned by Western leaders. However, Xi used his speech to highlight how China’s growing military and diplomatic power represents an alternative to a U.S.-led world.
During the parade, Xi sat between Putin and Kim in the viewing gallery, engaging in conversations with both. Putin later thanked Kim for his soldiers’ involvement in the war in Ukraine. Kim brought his teenage daughter to Beijing; her first public appearance abroad has fueled speculation about her potential future role as a successor. The North Korean government has disclosed little information about this daughter.
The 70-minute parade culminated in the release of 80,000 “peace” birds, with Xi stating that the Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history and inspecting troops while riding in an open-top limousine.
