China, Russia, and North Korea Show Military Might Together. Trump Criticizes Anti-US Conspiracy, EU Points to Anti-Western Stance

China showcased a wide array of cutting-edge weapons in its largest military parade to date on Wednesday, creating a historic image of Chinese, Russian, and North Korean leaders watching the parade from Tiananmen Square. This display sent a strong message of deterrence to the United States and its Western allies. During his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned about the choice between peace and war, cooperation and zero-sum games, emphasizing China’s commitment to the ‘right side of history’ and ‘progress of human civilization.’ EU foreign officials criticized the gathering of Chinese, Russian, North Korean, and Iranian leaders in Beijing, stating that it poses a ‘direct challenge’ to the rule-based international system. As the military parade took place in Beijing on September 3rd, U.S. President Trump, in a media interview, expressed not being concerned about a China-Russia anti-U.S. axis forming, and emphasized the importance of maintaining strong military capabilities. Meanwhile, EU foreign officials raised concerns about the emergence of a ‘new international order’ that opposes the West, highlighting the strategic challenge posed by the collective presence of leaders from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran in Beijing. On the same day as China’s military parade, U.S. President Trump stated in a media interview that he is not worried about a China-Russia axis against the U.S., reiterating the need for the United States to remain vigilant and prepared for any potential threats on the global stage.