Among the world leaders set to attend a military parade in Beijing next week with President Xi Jinping are Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, in what is being framed as a display of collective defiance in the face of mounting Western pressure.

No Western leaders are expected among the 26 foreign heads of state and government attending the parade next week, with the only exception being Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, who represents a member of the European Union, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Against the backdrop of China’s expanding military power displayed during the Victory Day parade on 3 September, the three leaders will present a strong demonstration of unity.

Attendees

Those attending the parade commemorating Japan’s formal surrender in the Second World War will include Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Iranian President Masoud Pezashkian, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei said at a news conference.

The United Nations will be represented by Under Secretary General Li Junhua, who previously held multiple roles within the Chinese Foreign Ministry, including serving as China’s ambassador to Italy, San Marino, and Myanmar.

On the day, President Xi Jinping will review tens of thousands of troops at Tiananmen Square alongside foreign dignitaries and senior Chinese leaders, in a highly choreographed parade set to be one of China’s largest in years and featuring advanced equipment, including fighter jets, missile defense systems, and hypersonic weapons.

China's military ascendancy

The spectacle comes amid a historic shift in China's military posture. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is rapidly modernizing, with over 370 naval vessels making it the world's largest fleet by size, while its nuclear stockpile has expanded to an estimated 600 warheads and could exceed 1,000 by 2030.

Hypersonic glide vehicles, new missile silos, and advanced stealth aircraft like the J-20 highlight Beijing's focus on deterrence and technological parity with Washington. Reforms introduced in 2024 have created new aerospace and information warfare commands, reflecting the PLA’s move toward integrated multi-domain operations.

By contrast, the 2015 commemoration involved more than 12,000 soldiers and 500 pieces of equipment, but many Western leaders stayed away, wary of Beijing's military messaging. Foreign attendees then included former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In preparation for next month's event, Beijing has tightened security in the capital, setting up checkpoints, rerouting traffic, and closing commercial centers near the venue. Two rehearsals earlier this month drew 20,000 and 40,000 participants respectively, including troops, police, and spectators.