By Will Stark
On September 3, 2025, leaders from over twenty five Eastern countries met in Beijing for a summit and military parade. Now, to the untrained American eye, this may seem concerning. The trained eye agrees. Among the major players in attendance with Xi Jinping were Supreme Leader Kim Jon Un, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi. To have such a large concentration of political power with traditionally anti-American sentiments (with the exception of India) was to say the least, concerning. Even more so, when considering the circumstances.
The procession of arms, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, was quite the spectacle. They parade nuclear weapons, aerial and underwater drones powered by AI, intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the United States, laser weapons mounted on trucks for destroying electronics, and even robot wolves, which can conduct reconnaissance missions, deliver supplies, and fire rifles.
China desires to prove themselves to other powers in the East. Jinping wants allies as he attempts to reassert Chinese influence on the globe, while American influence starts to waver. China will need support from other countries if it tries to reclaim Taiwan. By asserting itself as a world power to its neighbors, China will face less opposition in this area.
Russia needs allies. Isolated from the West economically from Ukraine War Sanctions, it searches for economic allies elsewhere. In Beijing, Putin hopes to strengthen economic ties with partners like China and India. Similarly, Russia seeks further military partnership with North Korea, who has already sent troops and supplies to aid them. It’s important to keep in mind that Russia is a major source of power in the East, and could use this as a powerful bargaining chip.
North Korea needs political ties. Let’s be real; North Korea’s antics raise everyone’s eyebrows. North Korea needs to prove that it can be more than China’s volatile little neighbor. Kim Jon Un knows his country is a long way from being self-sufficient, and as such hopes to improve economic ties with Russia and China. Both economic powerhouses and disagree with the United States, North Korea sees partnerships with them as an opportunity too good to pass up.
India wants reassurances. In 2020, Indian and Chinese forces were involved in deadly battles across the border, and for this reason Modi was not present at the parade. However, he arrived later, and hopes to gain a better relationship with India’s regional neighbors. Due to the recent imposition of tariffs by the United States, India shows that it is willing to take steps towards Eastern trade relations.
In the end, only time will tell how fruitful talks between these nations will be, as well as how the United States will respond. It is possible that nothing of significance was accomplished. However, we must be prepared for the alternative.