Trump blasts Xi, Putin and Kim over China’s military parade
President Donald Trump criticizes China, Russia, and North Korea leaders’ joint appearance at China’s military parade, calling it a conspiracy.
China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un met publicly for the first time as part of an event in Beijing to mark 80 years since Japan’s defeat at the end of World War Two.
The event’s main attraction was a massive and highly choreographed military parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. It showcased China’s advancing military might in front of 50,000 guests and spectators. China unveiled a new long-range hypersonic missile, underwater drones and even robotic wolves.
The ceremony was largely shunned by Western leaders. But the appearance of Xi, Putin and Kim together for the first time did not, according to the Kremlin, amount to a diplomatic plot against the United States despite a suggestion from President Donald Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform that it did just that.
“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” Trump said in a post directed at Xi on Truth Social as the event kicked off on Sept. 2.
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said that Trump may have been being ironic. “I would like to say that no one has been conspiring, no one has been plotting anything, no conspiracies,” Ushakov told Russian state TV.
Trump had earlier told reporters he did not see the parade as a challenge to the United States. However, Xi used a crowd-pleasing speech to highlight how China’s growing military and diplomatic clout represents an alternative to a U.S.-led world under Trump’s White House that has strained relations with allies and rivals alike.
“Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum,” Xi said as helicopters trailed large banners and fighter jets flew in formation over Tiananmen Square. The 70-minute showcase culminated in the release of 80,000 “peace” birds. Xi said that the Chinese people “firmly stand on the right side of history.” He inspected troops and China’s military equipment while riding in an open-top limousine.
After the parade, Xi told guests at a lavish reception at the nearby Great Hall of the People, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported, that humanity must not return to the “law of the jungle.”
During the parade, Xi was seated between Putin and Kim in the viewing gallery. They were seen repeatedly engaged in conversations. Putin later thanked his North Korean counterpart for his soldiers’ fighting in the war in Ukraine, Russia state media said. Kim said he was willing to do everything he can to help Russia.
“If there is anything I can or must do for you and the Russian people, I consider it my duty as a fraternal obligation,” Kim, who has obtained financial and missile technology assistance from Russia, told Putin.
Kim brought his teenage daughter to Beijing for the parade. It was her first public outing overseas. Her appearance has fueled speculation that she may be his potential successor in the family’s dynastic rule. The North Korean government has disclosed little information about Kim’s daughter with his wife Ri Sol Ju.