Xi Brings Together Putin and Kim in Beijing: A New Power Game in Asia

A Historic Meeting in Beijing

For the first time since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un are meeting publicly. The grand military parade in Beijing is more than just symbolic—it marks a new axis in world politics.

Putin thanked his “dear friend” Xi for a warm welcome, emphasizing that relations between the two countries are at an “unprecedented high level.” Kim, who arrived with his armored train, further reinforces the image of an Eastern front challenging the West.

From Sanctions to Cooperation

Until just a few years ago, Russia and China played key roles in enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea. Now, experts instead are talking about upcoming joint military exercises. According to Youngjun Kim, an analyst at the U.S.-based National Bureau of Asian Research, a trilateral maneuver is “almost inevitable.”

The fact that North Korea has already sent over 15,000 soldiers to Ukraine—of whom 600 are believed to have died in combat—underscores that the relationship has become deadly serious.

Trump on the Sidelines

As the three authoritarian leaders strengthen their ties, Donald Trump watches from a distance. His isolationist approach makes it difficult to rally traditional allies. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the summit as “performative” and accused China and India of being “bad actors.”

Nevertheless, the images from Beijing highlight that America’s role as a global focal point is under pressure.

A Geopolitical Maelstrom

When Xi talks about standing “firmly against hegemonism and power politics,” the message is directly aimed at Washington. For the West, the summit raises a question: Are we witnessing a new Cold War—or the beginning of a geopolitical maelstrom where power shifts eastward?

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.