Beijing, Sept 3, 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a high-stakes summit in Beijing on Tuesday, bringing together Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a powerful display of solidarity among authoritarian allies increasingly at odds with the West.
The meeting, which marks the first time the three leaders have convened together, has sparked concern in Western capitals. Analysts warn the gathering could signal deepening military cooperation among China, Russia, and North Korea — a potential reshaping of power dynamics in Asia and beyond.
Putin praised the “unprecedentedly high level” of relations with Beijing and thanked his “dear friend” Xi for the warm welcome during formal talks at the Great Hall of the People. Meanwhile, Kim’s iconic armored train was en route to the Chinese capital, where he will join Xi and Putin for China’s massive military parade on Wednesday.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is also expected to attend the parade, further expanding the presence of leaders often labeled by Western analysts as part of an emerging “Axis of Upheaval.”
The summit comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump faces mounting criticism over his isolationist foreign policy stance, which has strained traditional alliances in Europe and Asia. Trump has long touted his personal relationships with Xi, Putin, and Kim, and has positioned himself as a potential peacemaker amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
But the show of unity in Beijing sends a different message.
A Military Shift in Asia?
Following the signing of a mutual defense pact between Russia and North Korea in June 2024, and increasing cooperation between Beijing and Pyongyang, experts say the groundwork is being laid for a new military axis in the Asia-Pacific.
“Trilateral military exercises between Russia, China, and North Korea seem nearly inevitable,” wrote Youngjun Kim, an analyst at the U.S.-based National Bureau of Asian Research, earlier this year. He noted that while Beijing and Moscow once backed international sanctions on North Korea, they now appear poised to stand by Pyongyang in a regional crisis.
North Korea has emerged as a critical supporter of Russia in its war with Ukraine. According to South Korea’s intelligence agency, Pyongyang has already deployed over 15,000 troops to the conflict, with some 600 reportedly killed in fighting in the Kursk region. Another deployment is reportedly being prepared.
Putin, speaking earlier at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, called for restoring a “fair balance in the security sphere” — a veiled reference to Russia’s opposition to NATO’s expansion.
Meanwhile, a major new energy agreement was signed during Putin’s visit, as Russia’s Gazprom and China’s National Petroleum Corporation sealed a long-term deal to boost gas exports to China via a planned pipeline that could run for 30 years.
Xi’s Subtle Rebuke of the West
During a separate meeting with over 20 leaders from non-Western nations on Monday, Xi delivered a pointed message without naming the U.S. directly: “We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics.”
He also met privately with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both India and China have faced criticism from Washington — particularly from Trump — over their continued purchases of discounted Russian oil, which critics argue helps bankroll the Kremlin’s war effort.
Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, dismissed the summit as “performative,” accusing China and India of playing “bad actors” in prolonging the Ukraine conflict.
Yet for Kim Jong Un, the Beijing gathering marks a diplomatic milestone — the largest multilateral event he has ever attended. North Korean state media released images of Kim and his entourage aboard his armored train, including veteran diplomat Choe Son Hui, who has helped lead North Korea’s weapons diplomacy for over two decades.
What Comes Next?
With the parade set to showcase China’s military might and informal talks expected to continue at Xi’s private residence, the world is watching closely. The Beijing summit could be more than symbolic — it may foreshadow a deepening of military and strategic ties that could reshape the balance of power across Eurasia.
As Trump eyes a Nobel Peace Prize and continues his re-election campaign, any shift toward greater coordination between China, Russia, and North Korea is likely to fuel further geopolitical anxiety in Washington and its allies.
