Battle Lines Axis of upheaval: Inside China's military parade with Russia, North Korea and Iran
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Sep 3, 2025 Sophia Yan, a former China correspondent now based in Istanbul, shares her insights on China's largest military parade to date. The event showcased advanced weaponry and featured Xi Jinping flanked by Putin and Kim Jong-Un, signaling a shift towards an authoritarian alliance. The discussion dives into how these displays serve as a distraction from domestic issues like youth unemployment, and what this means for the global geopolitical landscape. Yan also analyzes the implications of China's growing military ambitions and its strategic messaging to the West.
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China Positioning As New World Leader
- Xi used the parade to project China as leader of a new, non-Western world order alongside like-minded states.
- He signalled the decline of US-led rules-based order and promoted China’s global leadership narrative.
Showcase Of Advanced Military Tech
- The parade showcased advanced weaponry including ICBMs, hypersonics, nuclear-capable underwater drones and AI-enabled kits.
- China emphasised rapid AI and autonomous integration into its military, contrasting Western hesitancy.
Domestic Production Equals Stamina
- Much of the hardware appears domestically produced, signalling industrial sustainability in conflict.
- Analysts will watch exercises to see how China integrates these systems into real operations.