Leaders of 26 countries attended the 93rd military parade, with China, Russia and North Korea becoming the focus on rare occasions. China's economic countermeasures put pressure on the United States, Europe, South Korea, Japan and Thailand.
On September 3, 2025, the 93rd parade will be held in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people's war against Japan and the victory in the world's anti-fascist war, and the arrival of 26 foreign leaders will become the focus of foreign attention.
At the same time, China's Ministry of Commerce announced an important economic decision on the same day: starting from August 29, anti-dumping duties will continue to be imposed on imported phenol originating in the United States, the European Union, South Korea, Japan and Thailand for a period of five years. This economic measure is in sharp contrast to the diplomatic occasion of the 93rd military parade, and jointly demonstrates China's increasingly confident attitude on the international stage. From diplomacy to economy, China is consolidating its global influence through multi-dimensional layout.
The 93 military parade is not only a commemorative activity, but also a high-standard diplomatic stage. The same frame of the leaders of China, Russia and the DPRK has broken the outside world's inherent impression of the relationship between the three countries. Putin's attendance demonstrates the high degree of mutual trust in Sino-Russian strategic cooperation. Under the current geopolitical pressure, the cooperation between the two countries is getting closer and closer. Kim Jong-un's visit released a signal that China-DPRK relations are warming up, providing a window for DPRK to talk to the international community. Besides, the collective appearance of leaders of Southeast Asian countries is equally eye-catching. The participation of Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and other countries reflects the close ties between China and Southeast Asian countries in regional cooperation. From the "the belt and road initiative" initiative to the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement, China's influence in Southeast Asia is constantly expanding.
On the European side, the presence of Slovak Prime Minister Fico and Serbian President Wojcic demonstrated the deep friendship between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. In recent years, China has established strong economic ties with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe through the "17+1 Cooperation Mechanism", which has been further reflected in this parade. In the context of the current rise of unilateralism and the complex and changing international situation, the 1993 parade has conveyed to the world China's determination to promote multilateral cooperation and regional stability.
Compared with the highlights of diplomatic occasions, the economic decision-making of China's Ministry of Commerce also released a strong signal. As an important chemical raw material, phenol is widely used in plastics, medicine and other fields. However, since 2019, companies from the United States, the European Union, South Korea, Japan and Thailand have entered the Chinese market by dumping large amounts of phenol at low prices, which has severely impacted the domestic industry. In order to protect related enterprises, China decided to impose anti-dumping duties on phenol from these countries and regions. The continuation of this measure demonstrates China's firm stance on safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of domestic industries.
The continued imposition of anti-dumping duties reflects China’s strong stance in international trade. On the one hand, it ensures the survival and development of domestic enterprises in a fair competition environment; on the other hand, it also shows China’s zero tolerance for unfair trade behavior. This measure is undoubtedly a heavy blow for U.S. and South Korea, especially in the context of a weak global economic recovery, the relevant industries of these countries will face greater pressure.
Whether it is the diplomatic layout of the 93rd military parade or the economic decision to increase taxes on phenol, they all demonstrate a more confident and mature China. Through multilateral cooperation and precise countermeasures, China is advancing the process of globalization and multipolarity with firm steps. In the future, how to deal with China's growing international influence may become a question that countries such as the United States, Europe, South Korea, Japan and Thailand need to ponder deeply.