Highlights

• China's military parade showcased advanced technological capabilities, emphasizing its dominance in rare earth materials and strategic manufacturing.
• Xi, Putin, and Kim's public appearance symbolized a carefully crafted diplomatic message of potential geopolitical alignment.
• The event highlighted China's industrial ecosystem and its critical control over rare earth supply chains crucial for advanced military technologies.

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China’s 80th anniversary “Victory Day” parade in Beijing was staged as a spectacle of military might, but for investors tracking rare earths, the optics carried quieter signals. Lasers, drones, and hypersonic missiles may dominate headlines, yet each depends on advanced magnet and material supply chains where China still holds the upper hand.

What We Know Is Rock-Solid

A piece in the BBC today correctly reports China’s unveiling of nuclear-capable missiles, underwater drones, and AI-powered aircraft. These are not science fiction—China has invested billions in scaling the People’s Liberation Army’s technological edge. It’s also true that Xi, Putin, and Kim appeared together publicly for the first time, a diplomatic image carefully crafted for maximum geopolitical impact.

Nebulous Vision

Ok, but then there were the descriptions of “robot wolves” and sweeping claims of Chinese invincibility, drifting toward the theater more than a sober assessment. Western analysts remain divided on whether China can effectively integrate such systems into real-world combat. The BBC notes, fairly, that China has not fought a war since 1979—this matters. Capability on parade grounds does not equal battlefield effectiveness.

Plus, the BBC reports the event as a direct challenge to the West, highlighting Trump’s online barbs and Western leaders’ absence. The bias here is less about misinformation and more about dramatization: presenting the parade as a cohesive anti-U.S. alliance rather than a carefully staged diplomatic photo-op.

Why It Matters for Rare Earth Exchanges Readers

Every hypersonic missile and AI drone on display is powered by rare earth magnets, sensors, and alloys—industries where China commands near-total dominance. The parade was not just a weapons showcase but also an advertisement of the industrial ecosystem that underwrites Beijing’s leverage. Investors should read this not just as a military story, but as confirmation that rare earth supply chains remain inseparable from geopolitics and defense markets.

Citation: BBC News, “Putin and Kim join Xi in show of strength as China unveils new weapons at huge military parade (opens in a new tab),” September 3, 2025.

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