S2E43: Tanks and missiles: The implications of China's grand military parade

Sep 25, 2025

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Beijing’s message was clear: We are a great power and a force for good.

Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus.

For September, host and deputy foreign editor Albert Wai connects again with senior China correspondent Yew Lun Tian.

They revisit the 2025 China Victory Day Parade, focusing on Beijing’s message to the world and what it reveals in terms of foreign policy preoccupations.

China’s WWII narrative was loud and clear: We have come a long way from being a victim to a great power. Additionally, the communist party is now strong enough to protect the nation.

For the domestic audience, the event was a great source of pride and served to galvanise the people during a time of great power rivalry with Washington.

Taken together with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Forum and the Xiangshan Forum on defence matters, September was a high-key month for China’s narrative building efforts as a responsible global player.

It sought to portray itself as a great power with friends, while leading the call for a new security order.

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen if China’s narrative shaping efforts would strengthen its hand when dealing with the United States.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:14 What is the big deal about the parade?

2:34 Futuristic weapons under the spotlight

5:21 Indonesian President Prabowo gets prime seat

6:57 Why WWII history matters to the Chinese government

8:49 Massive logistical preparations before the event

11:03 Do Chinese people still feel anger or resentment towards the war?

16:10 The West didn’t want to endorse China’s WWII narrative

17:30 China’s vision for a new security order

20:32 Looking ahead: APEC in South Korea and a Trump-Xi meeting