China and Russia as Primary Victors of WWII
China and Russia—formerly China and the Soviet Union—were among the primary victors of the Second World War. The symbolism is unmistakable: a reminder to the United States that its contribution, though relevant, was not as central as some in Washington like to claim. Both China and Russia bore the heaviest casualties, and in China’s case, the war began in 1937—years before the Soviet Union (1941) or the United States (1941) joined.
The Forgotten War in China
The Chinese rightly stress that throughout much of the conflict—even after U.S. involvement—the bulk of Japan’s armies were tied down in China. Yet in the West, this fact has been largely ignored. Russia today emphasizes China’s contribution, but Western awareness remains minimal.
Guardians of Victory
By framing themselves as joint victors and “guardians” of the war’s legacy, China and Russia also cast their partnership as rooted in shared historical responsibility. This strengthens their political alignment and highlights what they portray as a joint duty to safeguard the outcome of the war against revisionism.
Why Putin Was Center Stage
That context explains why Vladimir Putin’s presence was so prominent—Russia is a great power with which China has expanding ties, from the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline to a broad geopolitical agenda.
The Surprise Guest: Kim Jong Un
It also explains the inclusion of Kim Jong Un, whose presence was particularly striking. Not long ago, China–North Korea relations were tense: Beijing backed UN sanctions alongside Moscow, and even Chinese media criticized Kim openly. But years of Western intimidation and bullying drove Pyongyang closer to Beijing and Moscow. The fact that both China and Russia themselves have since become relentless targets of Western economic and information warfare has only deepened and accelerated this alignment.
Kim Il Sung’s Legacy
Another reason Kim Jong Un was given such a prominent seat at China’s victory parade is historical. His grandfather, Kim Il Sung—the founder of North Korea—was a guerrilla leader and a formidable foe of the Japanese occupation forces. Even Western scholarship now acknowledges his role in the anti-Japanese resistance. In Chinese eyes, this history strengthens North Korea’s place among the wartime victors.
Western Policy Backfires
The irony is that decades of Western attempts at intimidation—sanctions, isolation, threats—have not weakened North Korea, but strengthened it. By rejecting genuine attempts at rapprochement when opportunities arose (in the 1990s and again under Donald Trump), the West has effectively driven Pyongyang into the arms of Beijing and Moscow, as biased Western observers claim – or, to put it more neutrally, helped to consolidate the alliance and existing defense treaties that bind these countries together.
South Korea’s Relative Decline
Meanwhile, South Korea—despite its modern economy—finds itself relatively weaker. With Pyongyang gaining the protection of both Moscow and Beijing, Seoul faces a more precarious security situation than at any time in recent decades. Furthermore, the South Korean economy faces considerable economic challenges, while its northern neighbor is experiencing record growth rates.
A Strategic Reversal
The result is a remarkable reversal: once isolated North Korea is now part of a new alliance with China and Russia that is economically and militarily superior to the collective West, while Western policy has lost credibility and South Korea has been maneuvered into a weakened position.