Xi Jinping Hosts ‘Axis of Upheaval’ Meeting in Beijing, Sidestepping Trump

Beijing, Tuesday — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday convened his first-ever meeting with his Russian and North Korean counterparts — a rare show of solidarity among nations widely shunned by the West for their roles in Europe’s bloodiest conflict in eight decades.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised what he called China’s “unprecedentedly strong ties” with Moscow, thanking Xi for the warm welcome at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s armored train rolled toward the Chinese capital ahead of his participation.

The gathering, which coincides with Iranian leaders joining China’s massive military parade on Wednesday, highlights Xi’s growing diplomatic weight among a cluster of authoritarian regimes some Western analysts have dubbed an “Axis of Upheaval.” It comes at a time when former U.S. President Donald Trump’s isolationist policies have strained Washington’s alliances.

Beyond the ceremony, observers are closely watching whether the three leaders will signal tighter defense coordination, building on agreements signed last year between Russia and North Korea as well as Beijing and Pyongyang — arrangements that could shift military balances across the Asia-Pacific.

The developments also carry political undertones for Trump, who has long touted his personal rapport with Putin, Xi, and Kim and claimed credit for his ability to broker peace amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Taking a thinly veiled swipe at Washington on Monday, Xi told a gathering of over 20 leaders from non-Western countries: “We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemony and power politics.” Xi also held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — a nation Trump has criticized for purchasing Russian oil, seen as helping bankroll Moscow’s war effort.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the summit as “performative,” accusing both China and India of becoming “bad actors” by enabling Russia’s aggression.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Gazprom and China’s National Petroleum Corporation signed agreements to expand gas supplies, including a new pipeline that could deliver fuel to China for the next 30 years. Putin and Xi later moved to the Chinese leader’s private residence for further discussions.

Rising Alarm in the West

Analysts warn that any consolidation of military power involving Russia, China, and North Korea would set off alarm bells across the West. “A trilateral military exercise between Russia, China, and North Korea appears almost inevitable,” wrote Youngjun Kim of the U.S.-based National Bureau of Asian Research, noting that the Ukraine war has drawn Moscow and Pyongyang closer together.

North Korea’s role is becoming increasingly significant: South Korea’s intelligence agency says Pyongyang has already sent over 15,000 troops to support Russia, with about 600 reported killed in combat in the Kursk region. Further deployments are believed to be planned.

Kim’s presence at Beijing’s Victory Day parade — the largest multilateral diplomatic event he has ever attended — underscores his intent to project North Korea as a nuclear power aligned with Xi and Putin. Ahead of arriving in Beijing, Kim toured a missile facility in what analysts saw as a deliberate signal.

A Carefully Orchestrated Display

The parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, has paralyzed Beijing with sweeping security and traffic controls. Up to 50,000 spectators are expected to witness state-of-the-art military hardware on display, alongside the release of more than 80,000 doves and balloons — symbols of peace against the backdrop of intensifying global fault lines.