China’s Grand Display of Military Power Sparks Mixed Reactions

The grand display of military power by China on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II sparked a mix of admiration, apprehension, and reinforced commitment among Western leaders. The monumental event was attended by more than 25 heads of state, including Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, alongside China’s President Xi Jinping. The spectacle, characterized by formidable armaments and intricately organized troop formations left a profound impression on the global scene.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his awe of the parade during a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office, conveying his understanding behind the grand showcasing by the Chinese. Watching the parade, Trump felt an underappreciation of America’s role in securing China’s freedom. The President’s comments suggested a feeling of discontent over America’s contributions not being acknowledged sufficiently during the elaborate commemoration.

Adding to his statement, President Trump affirmed that he maintained a good rapport with all the leaders involved. He was cryptic about future relations, suggesting that events in the week or two following would determine how healthy these relations truly are. His comments came without offering any elucidation on the intended contexts.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke about the implications of the televised military parade on Fox News. He referred to the noticeable alignment between Russia and China, emphasizing the necessity for the U.S. to reinforce its military capabilities. Alluding to the need for restoring their military prowess, he asserted on rebuilding the ‘warrior ethos’ and reinstating a robust deterrence.

Hegseth also asserted that while the U.S. does not aim for conflicts with ‘China, Russia, others’, it remains alert. He opined that such shows of force are harmless unless they lead to actual military confrontations. He confidently conveyed America’s superior military strength, and reaffirmed the objective of retaining their edge in all spheres including land, sky, and sea.

Blame for the growing closeness between Beijing and Moscow was directed towards the previous U.S. administration under Joe Biden by Hegseth. He expressed discontent over Biden’s strategy of attempting to strengthen U.S. alliances, which contrasted Trump’s approach of levying tariffs and demanding increased military burden sharing, which unsettled some of the U.S.’s long-standing allies.

In response to the China’s show of force, top EU diplomat, Kaja Kallas expressed concern at the long-term implications. She identified those in attendance as autocrats looking to establish a new global hierarchy swiftly. She suggested that this move posed a direct threat to the current system of international rules and regulations, as demonstrated by the Chinese backing of Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.

Kallas, as the EU’s ranking official for foreign affairs, stressed the need for Europe’s geopolitical influence to stand up against this emerging new world order. She criticized that while the EU understands these developments, they are not acting effectively against them. In light of the recent improvements in transatlantic relations, Kallas refrained from criticizing the United States directly, but advised joining forces to determine a unified policy towards China.

Expressing the importance of the transatlantic alliance, Kallas emphasized the need to partner with like-minded countries. Observers read multiple objectives into Beijing’s grand parade. While it significantly enhanced national pride, it also presented an exhibition of China’s military advancements to prospective arms buyers like Russia, North Korea, and Iran.

A former military attaché with the U.S. embassy in Beijing warned about China’s long-term ambitions. According to him, ‘It’s a long-term plan to create an alternative to the Western democratic world order that has foreign policy, defense, information, and finance-economic components.’

There are numerous questions that arise from the grand military parade, including those about Beijing’s capability to effectively use the advanced weapons systems displayed on this scale. There are also concerns on whether the U.S. has the resources and strategy to counter them. The ability to gather world leaders is quite different from assembling a cohesive warfighting coalition, suggested a fellow at the non-partisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Despite the strong show of force coupled with goose-stepping soldiers, Beijing’s intentions remain unclear. Experts warn against taking Beijing’s overstated rhetoric at face value. There’s consensus that China remains far from ready or willing to replace the U.S. as a global provider of public goods.

However, it seems that China is eager to exploit the current global circumstances to build its reputation as a responsible and trustworthy partner. This stance is in stark contrast with the perception of the U.S. under Donald Trump’s leadership, which raised doubts in the minds of many about the consistency and reliability of the U.S. as a partner.