Peace or Confrontation – China's Message and Its Allies

Author: بسام زكارنة

In the heart of Beijing and across Tiananmen Square, the world witnessed on September 3, 2025, a military parade that was not merely a celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War II but a clear and profound message to the world at large. This is a message and a grand theme raised by Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating that humanity is today at a critical crossroads: peace or confrontation, with the choice resting in the hands of America, which must stop enslaving the world, as well as the injustice and plundering of its resources, and must cease opposing countries striving to rescue their people from poverty and hunger to a life of abundance, aiming for coexistence and mutual benefit, like the People's Republic of China.

 

China, with its growing economic and military power, speaks of peace not from a position of weakness but from the standpoint of the firm principles of its great party, with its core being Xi Jinping, confidently asserting its ability to protect its interests and sovereignty. The power displayed to the world was a dual message: a message for the domestic front to bolster the people’s confidence in their army, and a message directed at the outside world, particularly the United States, conveying that China will not relinquish its interests or tolerate any attempts to weaken it.

 

This military display, featuring thousands of soldiers alongside ground, naval, and air units, along with hypersonic weapons, intercontinental missiles, laser weapons, and offensive drones and vehicles, was not just a beautiful, stunning, and terrifying show for the enemy, but also demonstrated actual deterrent capacity in the face of any potential threat. Meanwhile, innovations in cyberspace and digital defense served as a reminder that military power alone is no longer sufficient and that control over information and digital reconnaissance has become a pivotal factor in any future conflict.

 

In a broader international context, the Chinese message embodies a clear stance: the world is no longer a field for unilateral supremacy, and China and its allies – from Russia and North Korea to some Latin American countries like Venezuela and Brazil, among others – reaffirm their rejection of unjust imperial Western dominance, which has manifested in economic wars and attempts to besiege development projects and mutual benefit among countries such as the Silk Road and support for separatist movements in Chinese regions like Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Uyghurs, and Tibet. All these efforts aim to weaken China and distract it with internal issues, but the military display showed that China is up to the responsibility and that any confrontation would be costly.

 

The fundamental message that China and its allies wish to convey is clear: we seek peace, but not at the expense of our independence, interests, or territorial integrity. We believe in cooperation, mutual benefit, and coexistence, and we sincerely invite the world to this with actual practices. However, those who choose confrontation will find themselves up against a formidable power, one that can drastically alter the balance of global power.

 

Ultimately, the military display and the accompanying statements do not hide the fact that the People's Republic of China is a major player in a world that is no longer under the control of a single pole. This reality is embodied in its military, economic, and political strength, and it sends an implicit warning to any party thinking of escalating tensions: the choice is clear; peace is the optimal path, while confrontation will be costly, bloody, and potentially catastrophic for all. It is essential for the United States and other Western powers to reconsider their policies.