Prabowo Visits Beijing To Attend China's Military Parade

President Prabowo Subianto/PHOTO via Instagram @prabowo

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto visited Beijing, China, to fulfill Chinese President Xi Jinping's invitation to attend the Chinese armed forces military parade in Beijing on Wednesday (3/9).

Prabowo, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya, departed from the Base Ops of the Indonesian Air Force Base (Lanud) Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta, Tuesday night.

On the Base Ops apron, President Prabowo's departure was released by a number of TNI officials, and members of the Red and White Cabinet, one of which was Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, who is also the spokesman for the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Tonight, President Prabowo Subianto left for Beijing, China, to fulfill an invitation from President Xi, which in fact the invitation expected the presence of Mr. President Prabowo from 31 (August). However, due to the dynamics in the country, then President Prabowo Subianto decided to postpone his departure," said Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi when delivering his official statement at Halim Perdanakusuma Base Base, Jakarta, Tuesday night.

Pras, Prasetyo's popular greeting, said President Prabowo was scheduled to return directly to his homeland on Wednesday evening, after attending a Chinese military parade in the morning.

President Prabowo, through Prasetyo Hadi, had announced his plan to cancel his trip to China after a riot in several areas in Jakarta and other cities last week.

Chinese President Xi Jinping invited President Prabowo to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit on 31 August 1 September 2025 in Tianjin, China, which was followed by a military parade to commemorate 80 years of victory in China's People's War Against Japan's Aggression and Anti-Fascist World War in Beijing on 3 September.

However, President Prabowo decided not to attend the SCO Summit, and the President's presence was represented by Foreign Minister Sugiono.

On the same occasion, Pras explained the reason the President finally decided to visit China, among others, the domestic security situation that has returned to normal, as well as the lives of people in areas that were chaotic last week have returned to normal.

"This one day he also monitors all circumstances and gets reports from all related ranks that people's lives have gradually recovered as usual," said Prasetyo Hadi.

Then, the Chinese government, in recent days, as stated by Pras, has also strongly requested President Prabowo's presence, for at least one day at a military parade in Beijing.

"Therefore, in order to maintain good relations with the Chinese government, the President decided to leave tonight, and the next night, he will return to his homeland," said Pras.

In Jakarta Tuesday afternoon, President Prabowo visited the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, and met with the Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.