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Parades

China Commemorates 80th Anniversary of WWII Victory with Grand Military Parade

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

China has held a massive military parade in central Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging its commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. The parade, attended by foreign leaders and representatives of countries that supported China's WWII fight, showcased the country's military prowess and its role in defending world peace. President Xi Jinping highlighted the significance of the victory, noting that the Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defense of world peace with immense sacrifice in the war.

Key Takeaways:

  • The parade was held on September 3, 2025, to commemorate China's victory in World War II, and marked the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to commemorate the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
  • The parade featured over 20,000 troops, including new tanks, artillery, and military equipment, and showcased China's advanced armaments, including unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic weaponry capable of global strikes.
  • President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of eliminating the root cause of war and preventing historical tragedies from recurring, and called on nations to take greater responsibilities in defending world peace.
  • China designated September 3 as Victory Day, and the 80-banner formation honoring heroic military units from the war highlighted China's position as the first country to rise against fascist aggression with the longest-lasting resistance that began in 1931.
  • The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) new system of services and arms, the result of military reforms under Xi's leadership, was put on display for the first time during the parade.
  • Chinese soldiers who participated in UN peacekeeping operations marched past Tian'anmen Square, marking their first appearance in a V-Day parade, and demonstrating China's commitment to defending peace and promoting stability.
  • The parade marked a significant milestone in China's pursuit of Chinese modernization on all fronts, as the country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035.

Statistics:

  • China suffered 35 million military and civilian casualties during World War II, accounting for around one-third of all WWII casualties worldwide.
  • More than 10,000 military personnel and over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments were arranged into formations according to a wartime command system during the parade.
  • The PLA's new system of services and arms featured advanced armaments, including unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic weaponry capable of global strikes.

Sources:

  • Xinhua via COMTEX
  • COMTEX_468507035/2084/2025-09-02T23:39:35
  • XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

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