Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News – Xinhua
In a striking display of military power and national pride, China on Wednesday staged a large-scale military parade in central Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II.
The event, held in Tiananmen Square, not only paid tribute to the immense sacrifices of the past but also signaled China’s evolving military capabilities and its stated commitment to peaceful development amid global uncertainty.
President Xi Jinping, flanked by foreign dignitaries including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, presided over the ceremony from Tiananmen Rostrum. Over 20 foreign leaders attended the gathering, alongside international veterans and descendants of those who had supported China’s war effort, including representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Russia.
Towering replicas of the Great Wall framed the iconic square, symbolizing national unity and resilience. In the skies above, formations of helicopters carried banners proclaiming messages such as “Justice Prevails,” “Peace Prevails,” and “The People Prevail,” echoing the overarching theme of remembrance and resolve.
In a keynote address ahead of the parade, Xi emphasized the historical significance of China’s wartime victory. “Eighty years ago, we won our first full victory against foreign aggression in modern history,” he said. “It was a triumph forged through blood, sacrifice, and unbreakable spirit.” He lauded the Chinese people’s pivotal role in the global fight against fascism and called on the international community to work collectively to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.
The date, September 3, marks the day after Japan’s formal surrender in 1945. China designated it as Victory Day to honor its long and grueling struggle against Japanese aggression, which began as early as 1931.
China’s war effort, often overlooked in Western narratives, tied down more than half of Japan’s overseas forces and resulted in an estimated 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties accounting for nearly one-third of the total global toll of the war.
More than 10,000 troops from all branches of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) took part in the parade, joined by over 100 aircraft and hundreds of pieces of modern weaponry. New military systems were featured for the first time, including hypersonic missiles, unmanned surveillance and counter-unmanned vehicles, electronic jamming platforms, directed-energy weapons, and long-range strategic missiles capable of global strikes.
Notably, the formations reflected recent military reforms championed by Xi, who has overhauled the command structure of the PLA to streamline joint operations and enhance combat readiness. The parade demonstrated how far China has advanced in military modernization an integral part of its broader goal to become a “world-class military” by mid-century.
Also marching were Chinese soldiers who had served in United Nations peacekeeping operations, marking their debut in a V-Day parade. Their participation highlighted China’s expanding role in international security missions, a point underscored by Xi’s call for the PLA to support the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” while upholding global peace and stability.
“Humanity is again faced with a choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation,” Xi warned. “We must choose cooperation and win-win outcomes over zero-sum games.”
Spectators in attendance expressed pride in the country’s progress. Lyu Shouye, a graduate student studying artificial intelligence, stood among the crowd and reflected on the nation’s transformation. “Eighty years ago, we were revived. Today, we are thriving,” he said. “Our country is now at a point where it must shoulder greater responsibilities in the world.”
A special tribute was paid to the “80-banner formation,” which honored heroic units from the war and symbolized China’s enduring legacy as one of the first nations to resist fascist aggression. These banners marched past Tiananmen Square in solemn procession, reminding observers of the sacrifices that laid the foundation for China’s current national revival.
Wednesday’s ceremony marked only the second time since 2015 that China has held such a military parade in peacetime to commemorate the end of World War II. While it served as a powerful reminder of history, the message was also clear: China sees itself not only as a guardian of its past, but as a key actor in shaping the future global order.
As flags waved and the national anthem echoed through the capital, the parade concluded with a message as much about remembrance as it was about vision a China that, while honoring the memory of war, looks confidently toward its future on the global stage.
