On September 1, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an International governmental organization centered around ten Eurasian nations, met in Tianjin, China. The organization has met before, but the looming trade war with the United States set a new tone for the most recent meeting, where Chinese President Xi Jinping was eager to strengthen ties with each member state.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi, whose countries have had border disputes and rather strained relationships in the past, sat down together. Xi stated that the two nations should be partners, not rivals, with Modi saying there is now an “atmosphere of peace and stability” between the countries. China has problems at home, with an aging population, a high unemployment rate among youth, and buckling local economies to which the US-imposed trade war has only been adding pressure, thus prompting Xi to form stronger bonds among allies. Modi seems to be in favor of Xi’s efforts, especially after American President Donald Trump increased tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, a decision condemned by Modi.
On September 3, Beijing, China, saw 12,000 troops of the People’s Liberation Army march through its streets in the 2025 China Victory Day Parade as Xi Jinping, North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin looked on, marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japan in World War II. Thousands of tanks, aircraft, and other weapons of war were showcased, including new robotic wolves, underwater drones, and intercontinental missiles capable of transporting nuclear weapons into other countries. The event marks the first time that all three leaders of the most powerful nations in the Eastern Hemisphere have met since the 10th anniversary of Mao Zedong declaring China a communist nation. 
The symbolism was clearly intended, for the last meeting was at the height of the Cold War, when tensions between the East and the American-led West were at an all-time high. President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social, his social media platform, posting, “May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.” The Chinese Parade wasn’t a celebration of a war anniversary, but a targeted showcase of power, a message President Trump has clearly received. Xi Jinping has made significant moves in the Eastern Hemisphere in less than a week, as he sets his eyes on a new allied front, ready to stand together against the global superpower that is the United States.
