Beijing World War II victory parade showcases authoritarian alliance with Russia North Korea leaders

Beijing commemorated the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end Wednesday with a massive parade of goose-stepping soldiers and a display of high-tech weaponry designed to awe. Here’s what you need to know about China’s commemoration and the geopolitical alignment on display:

The parade spectacle and VIP attendance

China showcases military might with key authoritarian allies present:

• On VIP reviewing stand, balcony of Beijing’s Forbidden City, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un flanked Chinese President Xi Jinping
• Leaders from Global South nations including Cuba, Belarus, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Vietnam stood behind or alongside the three
• Leaders of China’s other World War II allies — France, U.K. and U.S. — as well as Commonwealth states that fought in Pacific — Australia, India and New Zealand — were no-shows
• Forty-five formations paraded, with vehicles including tanks, mobile unmanned weapons systems, and nuclear-capable Dongfang missiles

The historical narrative

Xi emphasizes China’s wartime sacrifice and contribution:

• “The Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was an important part of the World Anti-Fascist War,” said Xi
• Americans date World War II’s commencement to Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, but for Chinese, it started in Manchuria in 1931
• Oxford historian Rana Mitter estimates 80 million refugees and death toll of 14 million, while state news agency Xinhua puts it higher, at 30 million
• Problematically for ruling Communist Party, most fighting was undertaken by Nationalists

The ’CRINK’ authoritarian alignment

Four powers informally aligned against global order:

• China is most powerful of four powers aligned against Global North, informally dubbed “CRINK” (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea)
• “What unites CRINK is the view that the rules of the international order don’t serve them and that they should push back,” said Rob York, program director at think tank Pacific Forum
• Iran, North Korea and Russia, all heavily sanctioned, openly trade arms with one another
• China, vulnerable to sanctions, trades dual-use technologies, but not actual arms

The North Korean prominence

Kim Jong-un gains international stature through attendance:

• Kim was attending his first multinational event abroad — prior overseas engagements have all been bilateral
• He was accompanied by his teenage daughter Ju-ae, increasingly seen as being groomed for eventual succession
• “This event demonstrated how far North Korea is punching above its weight,” said Jenny Town, director of Stimson Center’s North Korea-focused platform 38 North
• Nuclear-armed Kim enjoys mutual defense treaties with both Beijing and Moscow

The Western challenge

Experts warn of democratic retreat enabling authoritarian advance:

• “The West, because of the U.S. retreat from its historical role as the guarantor of world order, is fighting with one hand behind its back,” said John Nilsson-Wright, associate fellow at London think tank Chatham House
• Iran has seen proxies Hamas and Hezbollah shattered while its air defense failed against Israeli and U.S. attacks
• Russia’s once-vaunted army is bogged down in Ukraine, suffering untold casualties
• World War II enemy Japan was predictable no-show, with Tokyo reportedly asking partner nations to stay away

Read more:

• China reclaims allied role in World War II’s victory