Editorial

15:40 JST, September 4, 2025

The leaders of China, Russia and North Korea gathered in Beijing to flaunt their stance of countering the United States. This is nothing less than an attempt to transform the international order that has underpinned global stability for 80 years since the end of World War II.

The democratic camp, including Japan, stands at a crossroads as to whether it will be able to contain the chaos brought on by the rise of China, Russia and North Korea and restore order.

China held a military parade in Tiananmen Square in Beijing commemorating “the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war of resistance against Japan.” Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who is general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, met together for the first time and watched the parade.

Xi said in his speech, “Today, mankind is once again faced with the choice of peace or war.” He added that the Chinese people will be committed to the path of peaceful development and will work with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind. This can be seen as China reaffirming its ambition to become a pillar of the international order.

Xi has advocated values centered on the United Nations, seeking to strengthen China’s influence by drawing emerging and developing nations to its side to build a counterweight to the United States. Now, he might be calculating to draw in........

© The Japan News