On September 3rd, Beijing hosted a summit meeting celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the conclusion and victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese aggression. This summit meeting was accompanied by a lavish military parade that showcased China’s military capabilities, as well as museums commemorating Chinese history and progress.The summit meeting also featured war veterans who fought in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance, creating a truly patriotic atmosphere in Beijing.
This summit meeting was also attended by several world leaders with close ties to China, namely Vladimir Putin of Russia, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, and Narendra Modi of India. While analysts have discussed the various motives each leader may have had for their respective countries, all leaders were officially there to strengthen ties with China and demonstrate their willingness to work together. Representing a tone of communication and compromise, this stands in stark contrast to the current diplomatic and trade relations between the U.S. and the East, which are strained by escalating tariff wars. Price increases of U.S. goods have forced countries like India, which rely heavily on U.S. trade to support their citizens, to consider other options. For countries that previously enjoyed positive and profitable trade relations with the U.S., the tariff wars seem to show inflexibility and disregard on the part of the U.S.
President Trump made statements accusing the world leaders at the summit of “conspiring against the United States of America” with China. In response to President Trump's remarks, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guo Jiakun said that “China has never developed diplomatic relations with any country against third parties”. While Trump’s claim is a possibility, the meeting appears to be much more focused on nationalism, with a direct focus on remembering the long history and celebrating the progress made in the modern era. Chinese culture places a strong emphasis on its past, as it has a lengthy and vibrant history that defines the Chinese identity.
Thus, it is not surprising to see recounting of historical struggles and victories, or to hear firsthand accounts from veterans during such a celebration. Whether the U.S. needs to be concerned about Chinese nationalism remains uncertain; however, it is essential to view current Chinese politics and actions through the lens of Chinese culture and history.
President Trump has also made reassurances that, while the Chinese military parade was impressive, the U.S. has nothing to fear due to its superior military capabilities. This may or may not be true. China is one of the Great Power States that possesses a capable nuclear arsenal, as well as the wealth necessary to support a considerable army and military defense. The U.S. should consider carefully before dismissing China as a formidable enemy, should diplomatic relations fail.
While this gathering of world leaders may not be a direct “conspiracy” to take over the U.S., there is a likelier possibility that it was organized directly to benefit China’s legitimacy as the leader of the East. This display of the Chinese military, along with Xi Jinping’s speech about the country’s infrastructure, history, and military might, as well as rhetoric about “creating a better future,” is likely a combined use of soft and hard power to establish China as the center of the Eastern Hemisphere's economy.
Throughout its long history, China has been the dominant power in East Asia. Much of what Chinese leaders have said in recent years--as well as their economic actions in the Belt and Road Initiative across many regions such as Northern Africa, the Gulf States, and South and Southeast Asia--have demonstrated a move in favor of China remaining the dominant power in trade and diplomacy in the East. The Belt and Road Initiative has effectively expanded Chinese influence by sharing infrastructure, resources, and financial loans to countries in these regions, potentially replacing the U.S. as “the” influential force of Asia.
Although it is unlikely that China is actively seeking to take military action against the U.S. due to the threat of nuclear mutually assured destruction, it is far more likely that they are using economic strains with the U.S. and other countries to position themselves as the more convenient, reliable, and safer option. While these smaller countries in South and Southeast Asia struggle to sustain the imports necessary to support their economies with additional tariffs, China presents itself as the solution to their problems replacing the U.S. as their new primary source of imports.
This window of opportunity that the U.S. has created due to tariffs has allowed China to replace the U.S. as the primary economic trade ally with many of these Asian countries, and could lead to catastrophic implications for the U.S. economy. Imports and exports are significant contributors to the U.S. economy, accounting for over 20% of the country’s overall GDP. If these sources of income for the U.S were to die out one would see the following in America: a decrease in jobs; inflation for consumers, resulting in higher prices for goods; a lack of access to innovations abroad due to being cut off in many ways and thus, being blocked off from globalization. There has been progress on this front trying to combat this challenge: between June 2024 and June 2025, U.S. imports have decreased. This signals the Trump administration’s efforts to place significant focus on the U.S. producing its own goods; reducing imports to create more job opportunities in the U.S.; and retaining the dollar within their own economy.
However, U.S. exports are continuing to rise, and to maintain this positive growth, foreign trade relations must not be compromised by a Chinese takeover. The U.S. is one of the largest exporters in the world, and cutting off exports would harm U.S. jobs and GDP. Exports to Asia from the U.S. account for ~30% of all U.S. exports, so cutting off economic trade ties with Asia due to tariff wars would be a costly and economic mistake. Nevertheless, China is already strengthening ties and taking advantage of the opportunity that the U.S. has presented.
The U.S. should be wary before allowing China to assume too much of the economic power currently held by the U.S. in Asia. The military parade is a signal from China that it is moving towards further economic power in Asia. Instead of ignoring this signal and further alienating our economic allies, the U.S. should move towards strengthening ties with the countries that currently rely heavily on U.S. exports. Ultimately, the tariff wars are damaging the U.S. influence in the eastern hemisphere, and putting at risk the U.S. jobs that already exist due to exports. The Trump Administration needs to take diplomatic action to repair the relationships that have been harmed and to secure the country’s economic future.