China marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and victory over Japan. China's Victory Day military parade serves as a powerful display of national pride and military power.⁠ ⁠ This year's parade carries heightened geopolitical weight with the attendance of 26 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, underlining China's diplomatic alliances as it presents itself as an alternative global leader. | September 3, 2025 | #GettyImages⁠ #GettyImagesNews⁠ ⁠ 1. The crowd watches as balloons are released during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square. | 📷: kevinfrayer⁠ ⁠ 2. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks with China's President Xi Jinping and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of vict...