Pizza orders spike near Pentagon at time of Beijing military parade: Chinese outlet

On Wednesday afternoon, Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with China’s state broadcaster CCTV, released a video saying customer traffic data from Domino’s near the Pentagon was more than four times its usual level around 9pm, and at the nearby Papa John’s restaurant it had tripled at the same time.

“Coincidentally, the surge in orders at both pizza shops coincided precisely with the commencement of China’s military parade,” Yuyuan Tantian said.

The remark highlights how much attention Beijing’s grand military parade – which commemorated the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II – received in the US, including from its president and defence department.

Just hours earlier, Trump had extended his congratulations to China on his Truth Social platform while also appearing to accuse Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un of “conspiring against the United States of America”.

On Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News that Washington did not seek conflict with China, Russia and others, even though it needed to remain vigilant.