NEWS AND ANALYSIS:
After initially dismissing concerns about China’s massive military parade this week, President Trump took to social media to troll Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Beijing’s questionable victory celebration marking the end of World War II.
Mr. Trump, asked by a reporter Tuesday about the parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, said he had no worries about China’s military capabilities: “China needs us much more than we need them.”
But in a late-night social media post the same day, the president questioned whether Mr. Xi would mention during his parade speech what Mr. Trump said was the massive support and “blood” the United States provided for China during World War II to help secure its freedom from Japanese invaders.
“Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory,” he said. “I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!” the U.S. president wrote.
After urging Mr. Xi and China’s “wonderful people” to enjoy a great celebration, Mr. Trump then took aim at the attendance at the ceremony of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America,” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social.
It was the first time Mr. Trump has acknowledged the anti-U.S. nature of the growing trilateral alliance.
In his speech, Mr. Xi made no mention of the United States. But he declared China is “great nation that is never intimidated by any bullies” — a repeat of earlier statements that are often used to indirectly refer to the United States, viewed by the communist leader as the world leader of capitalism.
Alongside the Chinese leader were Mr. Putin and Mr. Kim atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace beneath of portrait of Mao Zedong, the founder of Chinese communism.
It was the first joint appearance of all three leaders of the emerging anti-American axis since 1958, when Mao hosted North Korean leader Kim Il-sung, Mr. Kim’s grandfather, and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev at an earlier military parade.
Ahead of the parade, Mr. Putin told Mr. Xi that relations between Moscow and Beijing were at historic levels.
“Our close communication reflects the strategic nature of Russian-Chinese ties, which are currently at an unprecedented level,” Mr. Putin said, according to reports. During World War II, “we were always together then, and we remain together now,” he said.
China remains a major Putin supporter as Russia faces international sanctions and isolation over its war against Ukraine. Shortly before the conflict began, Mr. Xi and Mr. Putin declared a new “no limits” partnership.
Kim sends message
Mr. Kim, who in the past sought to navigate policies between China and Russia, in recent months has also joined a new, closer relationship with Moscow. North Korea dispatched thousands of troops to fight on the Russian side against Ukraine.
Mr. Kim did some nuclear saber-rattling of his own prior to attending the parade. North Korean state media revealed during a recent visit to a facility by Mr. Kim that his military forces appear to be working on adding multiple, independently targetable reentry vehicles to its growing force of nuclear missiles.
The inspection by the North Korean leader showed off production of a new high-powered solid-fuel engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles for the next-generation Hwasong-20 ICBM, the state-run KCNA reported.
The report, published hours after Mr. Kim’s departure by train for Beijing, was viewed by strategic analysts as an indication that the new missile engine will be used to launch MIRVs from its ICBMs.“Increasing the thrust can help secure multiple-warhead capabilities as well as simplify the structure of the missile propellant,” said Chang Young-keun, director of the missile center at South Korea’s Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, told Yonhap.
“Disclosing the Hwasong-20 ICBM development plan seems to be focused on stressing its intention to take part in solidarity against the U.S. ahead of the military parade where the leaders of North Korea, China and Russia will meet,” said South Korean Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the opposition People Power Party.
China has supplied mobile missile launcher technology to North Korea and is suspected of providing major support for its long-range missiles.
China obtained multiple warhead technology from the United States during the 1990s, when a “smart dispenser” made by Motorola was transferred to China for launching multiple satellites. A 1996 Air Force National Air Intelligence Center report stated that the satellite launcher could be converted into multiple nuclear warhead launchers.
Trump doubles down on plan for 600,000 Chinese students
Despite critics who say allowing hundreds of thousands of Chinese students to attend American universities poses a major security threat, President Trump is continuing to support the plan.
Mr. Trump said in recent days that he favors giving 600,000 Chinese students visas because U.S. universities need the money they provide.
Asked if the planned student increase is a negotiating tactic for trade talks with China, or if he truly supports the plan, Mr. Trump told the Daily Caller: “I think it’s very insulting to a country when you say you’re not going to take your students.”Mr. Trump said the current 300,000 Chinese students could increase to 600,000 over two years.
Asked about conservatives who say universities like Harvard and Columbia should be allowed to close, along with less financially stable schools, Mr. Trump said: “I don’t want them to die. I want them to be great but I want to be fair.
“It’s very insulating to say we don’t want their students,” he repeated.
Mr. Trump reversed course on Chinese student access. In May, the State Department announced that it planned to revoke the visas for 270,000 Chinese students with links to the Chinese Communist Party over national security concerns.
China hailed the reversal and plans to increase student visas as part of improving U.S.-China relations.
Mr. Trump said he does not expect anything in return from China for the concession.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, however, voiced its opposition to allowing the CCP presence on college campuses to increase.
“The CCP’s growing presence on college campuses threatens academic freedom, national security, and the human rights of Chinese students who are here with good intentions,” the committee said in a post on X.
“CCP-funded student groups have no place on U.S. college campuses. It’s time to stand up for free expression — not Communist Party control and censorship.”
The panel was commenting on a poll by the Vandenberg Coalition, a network of national security leaders who favor strong U.S. policies.
“91% of Trump’s base wants Chinese Communist Party-sponsored student groups OUT of U.S. colleges and universities, and 60% of Trump voters want the U.S. to get tougher on China,” the group stated.
Japan to host Army Typhon missiles for exercise
The Army plans to deploy medium-range Typhon missiles to Japan for the first time during Marine Corps-led exercises later this month.
The Army’s 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force will place the land-based, ground-launched system at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, about 25 miles southeast of Hiroshima, during the annual Resolute Dragon exercise, U.S. Army Pacific spokesman Col. Isaac Taylor told Stars and Stripes.
The Army-Marine Corps drills will be held from Sept. 11 to Sept. 15 throughout Japan, including Okinawa.
“Typhon provides a complementary capability to existing U.S. and Japanese systems and underscores our commitment to innovation, modernization, and the U.S.-Japan Alliance,” Col. Taylor said.
“This exercise highlights the importance of interoperability and our shared dedication to peace, security, and a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Typhon deployments to the Philippines and Australia riled China, which protested the missile system as a threat to its territory.
“The deployment of the system in Japan will further undermine the legitimate security interests of other countries,” said China’s Foreign Ministry.
The first test firing of the Army missile took place in the Western Pacific on July 15, when a Typhon was used to hit a sea target during the Talisman Sabre.
Typhon missiles were deployed temporarily in the Philippines in April 2024 — within striking distance of targets in China. The missiles were kept in place at the request of the Manila government.
China protested both deployments.
Typhon systems include launchers, missiles and a command center. The weapon can fire both SM-6 surface-to-surface and anti-ship missiles, and long-range Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles.
The Tomahawk has a range of up to 1,500 miles and is feared by China because of its precision strike capabilities.
The latest Tomahawk attacks took place against Iran’s nuclear facilities in June and were fired from special missile submarines.
Japan’s military also plans to deploy a new anti-ship missile called the Type-12 that will be based on Camp Kengun in southwestern Japan in March, Tokyo’s Defense Ministry said.
The Type-12 missile has a range of about 620 miles.
The missile deployments in Japan come as Tokyo has grown increasingly alarmed by expanding Chinese military power and aggressive actions in the region.
• Contact Bill Gertz on X @BillGertz.
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.