China's Military Parade: What's Next?
Introduction
The recent military parade in Beijing, China saw a powerful display of unity between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his allies, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. With the presence of other leaders from countries like Iran and Pakistan, the message was clear - China is ready to take on the world. However, in his speech, Xi Jinping asked the world to choose between 'war or peace.' This raises questions about the direction China is headed in.
The Rise of China
China has emerged as a global superpower in recent years, with a rapidly growing economy and military might. The country has been making strategic moves to expand its influence, from the Belt and Road Initiative to the South China Sea dispute. This has caused concern among other global powers, leading to a trade war with the US and tensions in the region. Xi Jinping's call for peace could be seen as a warning to the world to not provoke China.
The Struggle for Supremacy
There is no denying that China is on the rise, but the question remains - what is its ultimate goal? With the heavy presence of military leaders at the parade, it is clear that China is eager to assert its dominance. However, this could also be a sign of insecurity, as China still faces criticism for its human rights record and political system. As the world watches China's next move
About the People Mentioned
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is a prominent Chinese politician born on June 15, 1953, in Fuping, Shaanxi Province. He is the son of Xi Zhongxun, a veteran of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). During the Cultural Revolution, Xi was sent to rural Yanchuan County, Shaanxi, where he eventually joined the CCP in 1974. He studied chemical engineering at Tsinghua University as a worker-peasant-soldier student and later earned a Doctor of Law degree from the university through an in-service graduate program in Marxist theory and ideological and political education[1][5]. Xi rose through the ranks of the CCP, serving as governor of Fujian from 1999 to 2002 and then as governor and party secretary of Zhejiang from 2002 to 2007. He briefly served as the party secretary of Shanghai in 2007 before joining the Politburo Standing Committee the same year. In 2012, he became the general secretary of the CCP and chairman of the Central Military Commission, marking the beginning of his tenure as China's paramount leader. Since 2013, Xi has also held the position of President of the People's Republic of China[1][3]. Under Xi's leadership, China has made significant strides in reducing poverty and curbing corruption. He has been praised for his efforts in these areas, which were highlighted in a historical resolution passed by the CCP in 2021[3]. Recent developments include Xi's re-election to a third term as general secretary of the CCP in October 2022 and his third term as president of China in March 2023, following constitutional changes that removed term limits for the presidency[3]. Xi's influence has been further solidified by the composition of the 20th Politburo Standing Committee, which consists of his loyalists[3].
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin is the current President of Russia, a position he has held for multiple terms since 2000, with a brief interlude as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012[1][3]. Born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1952, Putin began his career in the Soviet Union’s security services, joining the KGB in 1975 and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the time he left in 1991, following postings in East Germany and Leningrad[4]. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, he transitioned into politics, serving as an adviser to Saint Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak and later moving to Moscow, where he held various administrative roles under President Boris Yeltsin[6]. Putin was appointed Prime Minister in August 1999 and became acting President when Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned that December[3][6]. He won his first presidential election in March 2000, promising to stabilize Russia’s economy and political system after the tumultuous 1990s[3][7]. During his initial terms, he centralized power, reasserted federal control over Russia’s regions, and curtailed the influence of the country’s oligarchs through legal and economic measures[7]. Putin was re-elected in 2004 but, due to constitutional term limits, stepped aside in 2008, becoming Prime Minister under his successor Dmitry Medvedev, while retaining significant influence[3]. Constitutional amendments later extended presidential terms, and Putin returned to the presidency in 2012[1]. Putin’s time in office has been marked by assertive foreign policy, including military interventions in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad and the 2014 annexation of Crimea, which led to international sanctions[1]. Domestically, his tenure has seen increased state control over media, the suppression of political opposition, and constitutional changes consolidating executive authority[1]. In 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered a major international crisis, further isolating Russia from the West and prompting widespread condemnation[1]. As of 2025, Putin remains a dominant figure in Russian politics, having secured another term in office through constitutional changes that allow him to potentially remain president until 2036[1]. His leadership continues to shape Russia’s domestic trajectory and its role in global affairs, amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine and strained relations with NATO and Western countries[1].
Kim Jong Un
Kim Jong Un is the Supreme Leader of North Korea, having assumed power in December 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. Born on January 8, 1983 or 1984, he is the third son of Kim Jong Il and Ko Yong-hui. Kim Jong Un was educated partly in Switzerland before returning to North Korea and being groomed for leadership, officially introduced to the public in 2010 as the designated successor[1][2][3][6]. Upon succession, Kim Jong Un inherited control over the world's fourth-largest military and a nuclear arsenal. Early in his rule, he consolidated power by purging rivals and reinforcing his authority within the Korean Workers’ Party and the military. By 2012, he held several key titles including first secretary of the Workers' Party, chairman of the Central Military Commission, and chairman of the National Defense Commission. In 2016, constitutional changes established the State Affairs Commission, headed by Kim, as the most powerful governing body in North Korea[3]. His leadership is marked by a policy known as *byungjin*, emphasizing simultaneous development of the economy and nuclear weapons. Under Kim, North Korea has conducted multiple nuclear and missile tests, escalating tensions internationally. However, he has also engaged in historic diplomacy, including summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018, though relations remain strained[2][3]. Kim Jong Un maintains a highly secretive and authoritarian regime characterized by strict control over society and the suppression of dissent. Reports note his ruthless consolidation of power, including the alleged assassination of his half-brother Kim Jong Nam in 2017. His regime sustains a strong cult of personality similar to those of his predecessors[1][2][5]. Recently, Kim has participated in international diplomacy, including a visit to Russia amid ongoing global tensions. Despite these efforts, North Korea remains isolated, with ongoing sanctions and international scrutiny focused on its nuclear ambitions and human rights record[2].
About the Organizations Mentioned
Belt and Road Initiative
The **Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)** is a vast global infrastructure and investment program launched by China in 2013 under President Xi Jinping, aiming to revive and expand the historic Silk Road trade routes that connected Asia, Europe, and Africa. It seeks to foster economic growth and connectivity by investing in infrastructure, such as railways, highways, power grids, ports, and real estate, across over 150 countries and international organizations through six overland economic corridors and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road[1][6][7]. BRI’s core objectives include closing the infrastructure gap in participating regions—primarily Asia, Africa, and Central and Eastern Europe—while promoting trade, investment, and regional integration. It also helps China export excess industrial capacity and stimulates demand for Chinese goods and services by financing infrastructure projects involving Chinese firms and expertise[1]. The initiative covers about 65% of the world’s population and 40% of global GDP as of recent years[1]. Key achievements include large-scale infrastructure developments in energy, transportation, and manufacturing sectors, with record engagement in 2025 reaching $123 billion in contracts and investments, notably in green energy such as wind and solar, alongside traditional fossil fuel projects[2][4]. Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East have been major beneficiaries, exemplified by Nigeria’s $20 billion gas industrial park investment[2]. Despite its scale, BRI faces challenges from geopolitical tensions, debt sustainability issues, and shifts in global finance and climate policies. Countries like Italy and Panama have exited, reflecting some opposition and strategic recalibrations[3][7]. The initiative is adapting by increasing cooperation with multilateral development banks, emphasizing green and digital projects, and managing debt risks to ensure sustainable growth through 2030[3]. Notably, BRI has reshaped global infrastructure investment, extending China’s economic influence worldwide, while sparking debate over its geopolitical implications and long-term viability in a rapidly changing global landscape[6
South China Sea
The **South China Sea** is not an organization but a strategically vital marginal sea located in the Western Pacific Ocean, bordered by several Asian countries including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan[1][5]. It spans about 3.5 million square kilometers and serves as a critical maritime corridor through which nearly 40% of global trade goods transit, amounting to trillions of dollars annually[1][4][5]. This sea is also rich in natural resources, including significant oil and natural gas reserves, making it crucial for regional energy security[1][2][5]. Historically, the South China Sea has been central to regional geopolitics due to overlapping sovereignty claims by multiple countries over its islands and waters, particularly the resource-rich Spratly and Paracel Islands. These disputes have escalated tensions since the 1970s, involving issues of territorial sovereignty, fishing rights, and freedom of navigation[2][7]. China's expansive claims and construction of artificial islands fortified by state-owned enterprises have intensified these conflicts, drawing in responses from Southeast Asian nations and extra-regional powers like the United States, Japan, and Australia[2][3][4]. Key developments include the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated many of China’s territorial claims but has been rejected by Beijing, complicating diplomatic resolutions[2]. Efforts for peaceful dialogue continue under ASEAN-China negotiations for a Code of Conduct, aiming to manage disputes and promote joint resource development despite ongoing strategic competition and military posturing[3][4]. The South China Sea remains a focus of intense international interest because its stability affects the economic prosperity and security of nearly two billion people living nearby, as well as the broader Indo-Pacific strategic balance[4][5][9]. Its importance as a commercial gateway, ecological hotspot, and geopolitical flashpoint makes it one of the most consequential maritime regions in the world today.
