The military might of the People's Republic of China was on full display in a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two on Wednesday.
Thousands of miles away, at the White House in Washington DC, Donald Trump was paying attention.
They were hoping I was watching, and I was watching, he said.
The American president didn't detail his thoughts about the massive celebration sprawled across Tiananmen Square, except that it was very, very impressive. The message from China – to Trump and to the world - however, seems fairly clear: There is a new and growing centre of power in the world and a new alternative to the American-backed order of the past century.
Trump's remarks during a meeting in the Oval Office shed little light on the matter, reflecting a mix of ambivalence, grievance, and concern.
In a podcast appearance, Trump was initially indifferent about the parade, stating he was not concerned about China's show of force. However, by the same evening, he expressed dissatisfaction on his Truth Social, claiming China wasn't acknowledging the US's role in World War Two.
Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America, he wrote.
China's parade wasn't merely a display of military power; it also carried a historical narrative, as the Communist government sought to enhance its claim to a significant role in defeating fascism during World War Two. This event might indicate a broader effort to reposition China within the context of a changing global landscape.
Moreover, the parade coincided with a meeting between Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin, further signifying a warming of relations that Trump’s trade policies may have inadvertently catalyzed. This highlights the shifting geopolitical chess game influenced by Trump's America first approach, with broader implications for the future of international alignments.
While Trump remains focused on his domestic agenda and immediate geographic considerations, the echoes of China's military display serve as a stark reminder of the potential repercussions of his high-risk trade policy. As Trump navigates the political landscape, the risks associated with his sweeping trade actions could result in significant diplomatic and international ramifications.
