China Unveils New Weapons as Putin and Kim Stand with Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at China on social media late Tuesday after President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a military parade in Beijing.

“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America,” Trump wrote in a post directed at Xi. The remarks came as China marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II with a large-scale celebration attended by several authoritarian leaders.

The display highlighted Beijing’s growing role in fostering ties among countries often at odds with Washington. Analysts say China is seeking to capitalise on U.S. policy missteps to position itself as an alternative centre of global influence. “China is leveraging the mistakes the U.S. is making,” Jackie S.H. Wong, an assistant professor at the American University of Sharjah, told CNN.

Trump’s frustration underscored his struggles to sway authoritarian counterparts despite past efforts at personal diplomacy. His meetings with Putin last month in Alaska failed to yield progress on Ukraine, while earlier summits with Kim did little to halt North Korea’s nuclear expansion.

Beijing’s outreach extends beyond Moscow and Pyongyang. At a recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, leaders from Asia and the Middle East joined China in signalling alignment against Western dominance. Although the bloc lacks NATO-style defence pacts, it demonstrates China’s capacity to rally diverse partners and complicate U.S. strategy.