China’s 80th‑Anniversary Victory Day Parade Showcases Military Might as Putin and Kim Jong‑un Join Xi in Beijing

President Xi Jinping, who also serves as the Communist Party’s General Secretary, is expected to deliver the keynote address that will frame the nation’s narrative of the war’s legacy. In recent years Xi has used the Victory Day celebrations to reinforce a narrative of Chinese sacrifice and contribution to the global defeat of fascism, a theme that dovetails with his broader campaign to cement the Party’s historical legitimacy. “The Chinese people, together with all peoples of the world, endured unimaginable hardship and paid a solemn price for peace,” Xi is likely to say, echoing language that has become a mainstay of his public speeches.

The state’s ministries and the People’s Liberation Army are jointly orchestrating the festivities, which will culminate in a large‑scale military parade on Tiananmen Square. The parade is slated to showcase the latest equipment of the PLA, including advanced missile systems, unmanned aerial platforms and a new generation of main‑battle tanks. While the display is framed as a tribute to the “people’s war” that ended more than eight decades ago, analysts see it as a calibrated signal of China’s evolving defence capabilities and its willingness to project power on the world stage.

What makes this year’s ceremony stand out, however, is the roster of foreign dignitaries expected to attend. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un are both slated to be present, marking their first joint public appearance alongside Xi in Beijing. Their presence underscores a growing cluster of strategic partnerships that China has been nurturing amid a shifting international order. Observers note that the trio’s appearance sends a diplomatic message as much as a celebratory one, highlighting Beijing’s willingness to position itself as a hub for countries that feel sidelined by Western alliances.

The influx of high‑profile guests has amplified global media attention, with outlets from Europe, the United States and Asia dispatching correspondents to cover both the solemn remembrance and the pageantry. In addition to the parade, the commemorations will feature a series of cultural and academic events: historical exhibitions curated by leading universities, documentary screenings, and performances that reinterpret wartime songs for a modern audience. Non‑governmental organisations and community groups are also slated to hold local ceremonies, school programs and public lectures aimed at instilling a sense of patriotic pride among younger generations.

Beyond the symbolic, the 9 March activities carry tangible implications. The surge of “patriotic tourism” associated with the celebrations is expected to boost hospitality, transport and retail sectors in Beijing and other historical sites such as the former battlefields of the Sino‑Japanese war. The media buzz will fuel production of documentaries, feature films and television specials, providing a lift to China’s entertainment industry, which has increasingly turned to state‑endorsed historical narratives for content. Moreover, the logistics of coordinating a mass parade of tens of thousands of troops, military hardware and security personnel mobilises a wide array of support industries, from communications firms to construction companies tasked with preparing the parade route.

Politically, the Victory Day commemoration serves as a rallying point for national unity. State‑run television, newspapers and online platforms will flood the public sphere with stories of sacrifice, resilience and the “Great Patriotic Victory,” reinforcing the Party’s emphasis on collective memory as a cornerstone of social cohesion. By foregrounding China’s role in the anti‑fascist struggle, the government seeks to counter narratives that downplay its wartime contributions and to fortify a sense of historical grievance that underpins its contemporary foreign‑policy positions, particularly concerning Japan’s wartime legacy.

In the broader diplomatic calculus, the presence of Putin and Kim adds layers of nuance. Russia’s involvement highlights a convergence of interests, especially as both nations navigate sanctions and geopolitical tensions with the West. North Korea’s participation, meanwhile, signals Beijing’s willingness to maintain a strategic bridge to the isolated regime, a move that may factor into future talks on regional security and denuclearisation. The simultaneous display of China’s modern military might alongside invitations to these allies suggests a carefully choreographed blend of soft and hard power.

As September 3 approaches, the world will watch not only how China remembers a defining moment of the 20th century, but also how it leverages that memory to project influence, foster national pride and shape its role in an increasingly multipolar world. The “September 3rd Victory Day Commemoration” thus stands at the intersection of history, politics and geopolitics, offering a window into the priorities and aspirations of a nation that continues to define its past as a foundation for its future.