China’s Parade of Power: Why the US and Europe Risk Defeat

 The 3 September 2025 parade revealed a fractured West — and a China no longer hiding its ambitions

By Professor Andrew Azarov, Business and Economics, International Business academy Consortium (UK)

Part I. Introduction and General Context

On 3 September 2025, the world witnessed an event that is difficult to overestimate: a grand military parade in Beijing, organised to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. At first glance, it was just a traditional celebration, a demonstration of strength and discipline. In reality, however, it was something much greater: a political declaration, a strategic manifesto, and a signal to the entire world that the international balance of power is shifting rapidly.

China demonstrated not only military might but also its ambition to become the architectural centre of a new world order. From columns of intercontinental ballistic missiles DF-5C to the latest unmanned systems, from the strict synchrony of the parade to the carefully choreographed presence of foreign leaders – every element was aimed not at the domestic audience, but at the global stage.

And here lies the main challenge for the West: the United States and Europe were left standing aside. If a decade ago such parades were perceived in Washington as mere symbolic rhetoric, today they form part of Beijing’s systemic strategy. Yet America, mired in its own political crises, failed to respond in time and to develop a coherent containment strategy.

The mistake of the United States

Over the last 20 years, the United States has missed its moment. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan exhausted resources. Political polarisation paralysed the capacity for long-term planning. The “America First” policy alienated allies and eroded trust. Meanwhile, China was building strength – not only militarily, but also economically, diplomatically, and technologically.

Symbolically, the parade in Beijing took place at a moment when the US is no longer perceived in Asia as the sole guarantor of security. Its role has become debatable, its words less weighty, and its commitments increasingly questioned.

Europe in disarray

The European Union finds itself in an even more vulnerable position. Formally, it supports Ukraine and speaks of strategic autonomy. In practice, however, it is divided by the interests of individual states. Germany and France increasingly engage in independent talks with China, Italy wavers between Brussels and Beijing, while Eastern Europe looks to Washington but is increasingly doubtful of its ability to deliver protection.

The United Kingdom, following Brexit, also lost much of its traditional influence as a bridge between the US and the EU. London is trying to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific, but without coordination with allies, such efforts are reduced in effectiveness.

A new centre of power

The key message of the Beijing parade was clear: the world is entering an era of three poles. The first is the United States, formally retaining leadership but increasingly weakened by internal crises. The second is Europe, unable to produce a common strategy. And the third is China, which no longer merely aspires but openly asserts its right to global leadership.

This is what makes the 2025 parade historic. For the first time since the Cold War, the West does not hold a monopoly on power, technology, and alliances. More than that, the event highlighted a fracture that Beijing is determined to exploit to the fullest.

Thirty Years of Resonance: Revisiting Beijing '95 and Hillary Clinton's Defining Speech "Human rights are women’s rights"

This September 4th marks a pivotal moment in the history of the global fight for gender equality: the 30th anniversary of the opening of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Convened under the theme “Action for Equality, Development and Peace,” the two-week gathering in 1995 was more than a diplomatic meeting; it was a watershed that redefined the scope of women's rights as fundamental human rights and provided a revolutionary blueprint for progress. At its heart was a speech by then-U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, an address so powerful and unyielding that it echoed across the world, challenging entrenched power structures and giving a bold, new voice to a global movement.

The Stage: A World Gathering in Beijing

The Beijing Conference was unprecedented in its scale and ambition. It brought together 17,000 participants, including delegates from 189 governments, and an additional 30,000 activists who attended a parallel NGO Forum. The goal was to assess the progress since the previous women's conference in Nairobi (1985) and to adopt a new set of commitments.

The context was a world rapidly changing after the Cold War, yet one where discrimination and violence against women remained pervasive and often legally enshrined. The conference aimed to shift the conversation from theoretical discussions to concrete, actionable policies. After intense negotiations, the crowning achievement of the diplomatic effort was the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a comprehensive document that outlined 12 critical areas of concern—from women and poverty to education and training, violence against women, and the girl-child. It was, and remains, the most progressive blueprint for advancing women's rights globally.

"Women's Rights Are Human Rights": The Speech That Changed the Conversation

Russia-Ukraine War and trade wars at the SCO Summit 2025

The leaders of China and India say there is now deepening trust between them after years of tension that includes a long-running border dispute.

China's President Xi Jinping and Indian PM Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) in the port city of Tianjin. It is Modi's first time in China in seven years.

Xi told Modi that China and India should be partners, not rivals, while Modi said there was now an "atmosphere of peace and stability" between them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also at the summit, attended by more than 20 world leaders, which this year has been overshadowed by trade wars with the US.

US President Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods as punishment for Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil, and Putin faces threats of sanctions for his ongoing war on Ukraine.

As the US-India relationship faces increasing headwinds, Modi is moving closer to Xi. Both countries are not only the most populous, but also have two of the largest economies in the world.

Modi announced that flights between India and China - suspended since deadly troop clashes on their shared Himalayan border in 2020 - would resume, without providing a timeline.

Xi said "both sides need to approach and handle our relationship from a strategic height and long-term perspective" and that "it is the right choice for both sides to be friends".

The SCO summit itself is largely symbolic but will allow leaders to air common grievances and shared interests. It comes days before a massive military parade in Beijing that will mark 80 years since the end of World War Two.

There are 10 member states in the grouping - including Russia, Pakistan and Iran - and 16 dialogue partners and observers.

Putin, who is a close ally of China, arrived to a red carpet welcome in Tianjin on Sunday.

The SCO was created by China, Russia and four Central Asian countries in 2001 as a countermeasure to limit the influence of Western alliances such as Nato.

This year's gathering is the largest since it was founded.

“Education is not only about knowledge, but about creating strong personalities” — Dr. Olga Azarova

Trend: Shift from knowledge-based learning to competency-based learning.

International Education Network MINIBOSS BUSINESS SCHOOL is the world’s № 1 brand in business education for kids and teens. For more than two decades, it has pioneered a new educational model that develops entrepreneurial, emotional, creative, and leadership skills in children aged 6–17, preparing them for success in the global economy.

“Education is not only about knowledge; it is about creating strong personalities who can lead, innovate, and transform society.” — Olga Azarova, Founder of MINIBOSS Business School

Curriculum Design: From Knowledge to Competence

Unlike traditional schooling, the MINIBOSS Curriculum is intentionally designed to balance theoretical learning with practical application. A curriculum map outlines a year-long scope and sequence, ensuring both structure and incremental personality development.

Azarova emphasises:

“Intentional design must always come before systematic documentation. First, we build a model that works for the child’s full potential — only then do we formalise it.”