Chinese President Xi Jinping is keeping his friends close as he warns that the global order is on the brink of rupture.
Xi was flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace on Wednesday as a 70-minute parade demonstrating Chinese military might marched through the streets of Beijing. It was the first time the three opponents of Western hegemony gathered together.
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“In the past, when faced with critical struggles between good and evil, light and darkness, progress and reaction, the Chinese people rallied together to defy the enemy,” Xi said in a speech before the start of the parade. “They fought for the survival of the country, for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and for justice for the whole of humanity.”
“Today, humanity again has to choose between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win cooperation or zero-sum,” he warned.
The parade, which celebrated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, saw the deployment of thousands of People’s Liberation Army personnel and debuted a wide array of new military vehicles and weaponry.
Over 25 world leaders were in attendance as guests of honor, and approximately 50,000 spectators are believed to have gathered to watch the parade.
“The Chinese nation is the great nation that is never intimidated by any bullies and always values independence and forges ahead,” Xi proclaimed in a thinly-veiled rebuke of the White House’s efforts to wrangle the Asian power’s growing international influence.
President Donald Trump was not pleased by Putin, Xi, and Kim’s gestures of solidarity, speculating on social media Tuesday that the trio of world leaders was actively working to “conspire” against the United States and questioning a perceived lack of gratitude to the U.S. for its role defeating the Empire of Japan.
“The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ‘blood’ that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory,” Trump wrote.
“I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration,” he continued. “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”
Kremlin foreign policy official Yuri Ushakov specifically rebuked this characterization during an interview with Russian state television on Wednesday.
“I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies,” Ushakov said. “No one even had such a thought — none of these three leaders had such a thought.”
The Kremlin official added that Putin, Xi, and Kim understand the “role played by the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally in the current international situation.”
Putin, who has continuously thwarted Trump’s efforts to establish a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, responded to Trump’s comment by noting “the U.S. president does not lack a sense of humor.”
The Russian president held a moon-lit press conference in Beijing on Wednesday night, during which he claimed that while there was a “light at the end of the tunnel” in diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities, he was prepared to continue using military might as an alternative.
“If common sense prevails, it should be possible to agree on an acceptable way to end the conflict, that’s my assumption,” Putin told journalists in Beijing. “All the more so since we see the mood of the Trump administration, and not just rhetoric but a genuine desire to find a solution.”
“We’ll see how the situation evolves,” Putin continued. “If not, then we will have to achieve our objectives by military means.”
Ukraine has requested China take a more active role in negotiating an end to the conflict, hoping the Asian power would temper its Russian allies’ demands — a request that Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Guo Jiakun was asked about on Tuesday.
“China’s position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. Since Day One of the crisis, China has been committed to upholding an objective and just position and promoting talks for peace,” said Guo. “China stands ready to work with the international community, in light of the will of the parties concerned, to continue playing a constructive role for the political settlement of the crisis.”
North Korea has made no attempt to be diplomatic about the Russia-Ukraine war, pledging material and military support for its formerly Soviet ally.
Kim seized the Wednesday meeting as an opportunity to reiterate North Korea’s commitment to aiding the Russian invasion, telling Putin, “If there’s anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help.”
Putin thanked the North Korean leader and promised his country would “never forget the sacrifices that your armed forces and the families of your servicemen have suffered.”
An unexpected glimpse into the conversations between Xi and Putin was captured as the two leaders spoke into hot mics while walking toward the Tiananmen Gate. The pair conversed about breakthroughs in medical technology that have dramatically extended the average lifespan.
“With the development of biotechnology, human organs can be continuously transplanted, and people can live younger and younger, and even achieve immortality,” Putin was heard telling Xi.
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Xi remarked that in the past “people rarely lived to 70, but these days at 70 years you are still a child” before speculating that “this century, there’s a chance of also living to 150.”
The broader context of their discussion, not captured on the hot mic, is unknown.