What is the big deal about the parade?

Futuristic weapons under the spotlight

Indonesian President Prabowo gets prime seat

The Chinese government & WWII history

Massive logistical preparations for the event

Are the Chinese still resentful about the war?

The West's rejection of China’s WWII narrative

China’s vision for a new security order

APEC in South Korea & a Trump-Xi Meeting?

Beijing’s message was clear: We are a great power and a force for good.

Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus.

For September, host and deputy foreign editor Albert Wai connects again with senior China correspondent Yew Lun Tian.

They revisit the 2025 China Victory Day Parade, focusing on Beijing’s message to the world and what it reveals in terms of foreign policy preoccupations.

China’s WWII narrative was loud and clear: We have come a long way from being a victim to a great power. Additionally, the communist party is now strong enough to protect the nation.

For the domestic audience, the event was a great source of pride and served to galvanise the people during a time of great power rivalry with Washington.

Taken together with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Forum and the Xiangshan Forum on defence matters, September was a high-key month for China’s narrative building efforts as a responsible global player.

It sought to portray itself as a great power with friends, while leading the call for a new security order.

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen if China’s narrative shaping efforts would strengthen its hand when dealing with the United States.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:14 What is the big deal about the parade?

2:34 Futuristic weapons under the spotlight

5:21 Indonesian President Prabowo gets prime seat

6:57 Why WWII history matters to the Chinese government

8:49 Massive logistical preparations before the event

11:03 Do Chinese people still feel anger or resentment towards the war?

16:10 The West didn’t want to endorse China’s WWII narrative

17:30 China’s vision for a new security order

20:32 Looking ahead: APEC in South Korea and a Trump-Xi meeting 

Read more: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-showcases-military-diplomatic-prowess-at-parade-attended-by-putin-kim 

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters 

Host: Albert Wai (albertw@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani & Natasha Liew

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX 

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg 

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa 

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#STAsianInsider

Beijing&rsquo;s message was clear: We are a great power and a force for good.
Synopsis: Every fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times will now analyse the hottest political and trending talking points, alternating between its Malaysia and China bureaus.
For September, host and deputy foreign editor Albert Wai connects again with senior China correspondent Yew Lun Tian.
They revisit the 2025 China Victory Day Parade, focusing on Beijing&rsquo;s message to the world and what it reveals in terms of foreign policy preoccupations.
China&rsquo;s WWII narrative was loud and clear: We have come a long way from being a victim to a great power. Additionally, the communist party is now strong enough to protect the nation.
For the domestic audience, the event was a great source of pride and served to galvanise the people during a time of great power rivalry with Washington.
Taken together with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Forum and the Xiangshan Forum on defence matters, September was a high-key month for China&rsquo;s narrative building efforts as a responsible global player.
It sought to portray itself as a great power with friends, while leading the call for a new security order.
Looking ahead, it remains to be seen if China&rsquo;s narrative shaping efforts would strengthen its hand when dealing with the United States.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:14 What is the big deal about the parade?
2:34 Futuristic weapons under the spotlight
5:21 Indonesian President Prabowo gets prime seat
6:57 Why WWII history matters to the Chinese government
8:49 Massive logistical preparations before the event
11:03 Do Chinese people still feel anger or resentment towards the war?
16:10 The West didn&rsquo;t want to endorse China&rsquo;s WWII narrative
17:30 China&rsquo;s vision for a new security order
20:32 Looking ahead: APEC in South Korea and a Trump-Xi meeting&nbsp;
Read more: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-showcases-military-diplomatic-prowess-at-parade-attended-by-putin-kim&nbsp;
Register for Asian Insider newsletter:<a href="https://str.sg/stnewsletters"> https://str.sg/stnewsletters</a>&nbsp;
Host: Albert Wai (<a href="mailto:albertw@sph.com.sg">albertw@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani&nbsp;&amp; Natasha Liew
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa7"> https://str.sg/JWa7</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/JWa8"> https://str.sg/JWa8</a>&nbsp;
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaX"> https://str.sg/JWaX</a>&nbsp;
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>&nbsp;
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg">https://www.awedio.sg</a>&nbsp;
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#STAsianInsider

Get our uniquely Asian perspective on global issues, with ST’s correspondents from around the world.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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