Overview
- China marked the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end in Asia with a Beijing parade reviewed by Xi Jinping that unveiled the DF-61 ICBM, described as road‑mobile, solid‑fuel and MIRV‑capable with an estimated range over 12,000 km according to outside reporting.
- Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un joined Xi on the reviewing stand as 26 foreign delegations attended, following an SCO summit in Tianjin that emphasized trade and security cooperation among member states.
- The Pentagon responded that it recognizes the challenge posed by China’s advances but is not deterred.
- President Donald Trump called the ceremony “beautiful and impressive,” claimed it was staged for him to watch, and later posted that the United States has “lost” India and Russia to China.
- China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed talk of a “conspiracy” against the U.S., and military analysts cautioned that some systems showcased may outpace their proven operational readiness.