China is set to display advanced military hardware, including hypersonic missiles traveling at five times the speed of sound, during a grand parade marking 80 years since Japan's surrender in World War II.
Reuters reports that the event in Beijing on September 3 will involve tens of thousands of participants and hundreds of aircraft, such as fighter jets and bombers, alongside ground equipment never publicly shown before. This parade follows a similar one in 2015, highlighting China's military progress amid regional tensions.
Officials emphasized that the display will include precision-strike weapons and systems designed to counter modern threats like drones. Military analysts expect scrutiny on China's expanding missile arsenal, particularly anti-ship and hypersonic variants, as the U.S. and allies prepare for potential conflicts.
Parade Showcases Military Advancements
The event, dubbed "Victory Day," will last about 70 minutes and feature 45 formations of troops marching through Tiananmen Square. President Xi Jinping will oversee the proceedings, joined by foreign dignitaries including Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also attended the 2015 parade.
New armaments will make up a large portion of the showcased items, demonstrating adaptations to technological changes and evolving combat strategies. Wu Zeke, deputy director of the military parade, stated that the weapons and equipment "will fully demonstrate our military's robust ability to adapt to technological advancements, evolving warfare patterns, and win future wars."
From anti-drone equipped trucks to new tanks and early-warning aircraft for carrier protection, the parade aims to project China's defensive capabilities. Security experts note that such unveilings often raise concerns among neighboring countries and Western nations about the People's Liberation Army's power projection in recent years.
Rehearsals Reveal Intense Preparations
Hundreds of troops, including honor guards in formations of 15 or 20, have been practicing maneuvers at a military camp in Beijing's northwestern suburbs. Reuters observed officers issuing commands during a session on Wednesday, with both male and female participants spread along a runway-like track.
Authorities have ramped up security in downtown Beijing since early rehearsals this month, including checkpoints, traffic diversions, and closures of malls and office buildings. Two large-scale practice runs occurred on the weekends of August 9-10 and August 16-17, drawing 22,000 and 40,000 people respectively, involving troops, police, and spectators.
Staff Sergeant Lan Yu, a 28-year-old participant who served in a U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in 2019, described this as his first time representing such forces in a parade during his 11th year in the military. When addressing overseas concerns about China's military growth, Lan asserted that his nation has always been peace-loving.
Historical Context and International Attendance
The 2015 parade featured over 12,000 soldiers from diverse groups, including contingents from Russia, Belarus, Mongolia, and Cambodia, marching alongside World War II veterans. Some veterans from Taiwan, who fought for the Republic of China's military, also participated in that event.
Many Western leaders avoided the 2015 gathering due to unease over China's display of military strength, with then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declining an invitation. However, figures like former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair did attend.
This year's parade commemorates the formal surrender of Japanese forces in September 1945, positioning China as a key victor in the Asian theater of World War II. Organizers frame the event as a celebration of peace, though it occurs against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical scrutiny from neighbors and global powers.
Beijing Event Signals Future Strength
President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will lead the attendance at the September 3 parade in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, commemorating 80 years since Japan's World War II surrender to emphasize China's historical role and current military prowess.
The display of tens of thousands of troops and unprecedented high-tech weapons, including hypersonic missiles, underscores Beijing's focus on technological superiority amid concerns from Western nations and regional neighbors about escalating tensions.
Military officials anticipate the event will highlight China's ability to win future conflicts through advanced adaptations, with rehearsals already showcasing disciplined formations and enhanced security measures in the capital. Following the parade, analysts expect continued international monitoring of China's armament developments, potentially influencing U.S. and allied defense strategies in the Asia-Pacific region.
