In a bold display of unity amid swirling global tensions, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are set to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Beijing’s massive military parade on September 3, 2025. Marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s WWII surrender, this Tiananmen Square spectacle—featuring over 10,000 troops and cutting-edge weaponry— isn’t just a historical nod; it’s a thunderous statement of a burgeoning anti-Western axis. As the world watches, what does this trio’s convergence reveal about the China-Russia-North Korea alliance? And why should the West be on high alert?
A Parade of Power and Provocation
Picture this: Fighter jets screaming overhead, hypersonic missiles on display, and unmanned drones showcasing China’s leap in military tech—all under the watchful eyes of 26 foreign leaders, with Putin and Kim as star guests. This isn’t your average commemoration; it’s China’s biggest parade in years, debuting “star” weaponry like advanced strategic systems and anti-drone tech. Kim’s attendance—his first China trip since 2019—signals thawing ties post-COVID, while Putin’s front-row seat underscores Moscow’s gratitude for Beijing’s economic lifeline amid Ukraine sanctions.
But beyond the pomp, this event telegraphs a unified front. Xi’s recent call to “reshape the international order” with Russia, echoed during Putin’s Beijing visit, sets the tone. It’s a visual manifesto for a multipolar world, challenging U.S. hegemony from the Arctic to the Pacific.
What the China-Russia-North Korea Alliance Reveals:
At its core, this alliance exposes a deepening web of mutual support, born from shared grievances against Western sanctions and encirclement. Forged in the fires of Russia’s Ukraine war, ties have evolved from tactical convenience to strategic commitment. North Korea’s 2024 mutual defense pact with Russia—echoing Cold War vibes—has seen Pyongyang supply millions of artillery shells for Moscow’s frontlines, in exchange for tech upgrades to its nuclear arsenal.
China plays the enabler: Providing dual-use goods to Russia, vetoing UN sanctions on North Korea, and hosting joint naval drills that rattle Japan and South Korea. In May 2025, Chinese and North Korean troops marched together at Moscow’s Victory Day parade, a prelude to Beijing’s bash. This trifecta reveals vulnerabilities turned strengths: Russia’s military muscle, China’s economic clout, and North Korea’s rogue deterrence, all amplifying each other’s leverage.
From economic pacts—Russia-NK bridge projects worth $111 million—to military exchanges, it’s a force multiplier. Yet, cracks exist: Beijing’s wariness of Kim’s unpredictability and Moscow’s over-reliance highlight it’s not a seamless bloc, but a pragmatic “axis of convenience.”
Global Show of Power:
This parade isn’t isolated—it’s a multifaceted power play across theaters:
- Military Might: Debuting hypersonics and stealth tech, China flexes its PLA modernization, signaling readiness for Taiwan contingencies. Joint DragonBear (China-Russia) patrols near Japan in 2025 send chills through Tokyo.
- Economic Leverage: Discounted Russian oil fuels China’s growth, while NK gains food and tech, bypassing sanctions.
- Diplomatic Defiance: Excluding Western leaders, it spotlights a counter-coalition, including SCO members like Pakistan, pushing for a “new global order.”
- Hybrid Threats: From cyber ops to proxy support (NK troops potentially in Ukraine), it challenges NATO and QUAD.
In essence, it’s a rehearsal for coordinated challenges, linking Ukraine to Taiwan via an “invisible steel cable.”
How Do the US and Its Allies View It?
The U.S. and allies see this as a defiant “axis of autocrats” flex, amplifying threats in a multipolar standoff. No Western leaders are attending, protesting Putin’s Ukraine aggression and China’s Taiwan saber-rattling. Trump-era officials warn it could embolden invasions, with analysts viewing it as a “wake-up call” for bolstered alliances like AUKUS.
Japan and South Korea fret over escalation, urging tighter U.S. ties. Europe, sidelined in Trump-Putin talks, fears a fragmented security order. Overall, it’s viewed as a strategic vulnerability, prompting calls for sanctions and deterrence hikes.
A Tightening Noose
Asian nations face mounting squeeze: South Korea grapples with NK’s emboldened nukes, Japan with encirclement drills, and Taiwan with invasion shadows. Economic coercion—China’s trade leverage, Russia’s energy plays—intensifies, pushing ASEAN toward hedging. Philippines and Vietnam brace for South China Sea clashes, while India skips the parade amid border tensions. It fuels arms races, with Seoul eyeing nuclear options.
Is the Anti-US Alliance Strengthening?
Yes—2025 sees unprecedented integration: NK-Russia troop deployments, China-Russia pacts spanning space and energy. It’s a “force multiplier” against U.S. sanctions, but Beijing’s caution on full commitment (fearing backlash) keeps it pragmatic. Still, as Trump navigates talks, this bloc’s cohesion could reshape global fault lines.
A Parade That Parades Peril for the West
As confetti falls in Tiananmen, the real fallout hits Western capitals. This 2025 parade isn’t just spectacle—it’s a harbinger of a bolder anti-US front, pressuring Asia and testing alliances. For the West, it’s time to counter with unity, not complacency. Stay tuned; the next act in this geopolitical drama could redefine 21st-century power.
