Leaders from 26 nations gathered in Beijing on August 30, 2023, to participate in a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, showcased China’s military prowess and aimed to strengthen ties among countries aligned with Beijing.
Among the notable attendees were Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who made a rare international appearance. They joined Xi on the viewing platform above Tiananmen Square, observing a display of military hardware and marching troops, which was interpreted by analysts as a demonstration of unity against the United States.
The absence of leaders from the United States, Western Europe, Japan, and India underscored a significant geopolitical divide. Countries like South Korea and Singapore opted to send lower-level officials, further highlighting the event’s diplomatic implications. In contrast, the guest list reflected Beijing’s increasing influence in the Global South and among emerging economies.
In addition to Putin and Kim, the parade included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, both of whom are considered adversaries of the United States. Their presence, along with that of various Asian leaders, emphasized the gathering’s focus on strengthening alliances across the region.
Prabowo Subianto, the President of Indonesia, attended despite earlier canceling his trip due to protests at home. Other Southeast Asian leaders present included Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
From South Asia, notable attendees included Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Central Asian leaders also made their presence felt, with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and others joining the ranks.
The representation from Africa included Zimbabwe‘s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Republic of Congo’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Notably, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel was the only leader from the Americas in attendance, highlighting the event’s geopolitical significance.
While the guest list bore a resemblance to the recent annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, there were notable absences. Leaders from India and Turkey did not attend, despite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing positive sentiments about his recent meetings with Xi and Putin on social media.
The only European representatives to attend were Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico. Former leaders, including New Zealand’s Helen Clark and John Key, as well as former premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews, also made the guest list, reflecting the diverse range of international figures present.
This military parade not only commemorated a significant historical milestone but also served as a platform for China to reinforce its diplomatic relations and showcase its growing global influence in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
