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Parades

China to Mark Japan's Defeat in World War II with Elaborate Military Parade

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A grandiose display of military might is set to unfold in Beijing on Wednesday, as China commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event, led by Xi Jinping, will feature a parade of missiles, soldiers, and world leaders, including Kim Jong-un of North Korea, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, amidst tightened security and a heavily choreographed show of goose-stepping soldiers, martial music, and aerial displays. The parade is designed to showcase China's newest weapons, draw attention to its contributions to the defeat of Imperial Japan, and stoke national pride, while also highlighting Beijing's claims to territory and its ambitions for a "world-class" military.

Key Takeaways:

  • The parade will feature over 40,000 soldiers, civilians, and staff, and will include the top leaders of China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran, as well as representatives from 25 countries, including Myanmar's junta, the Republic of Congo, and Mongolia, Laos, and Nepal.
  • Only 7 of the 25 countries attending the parade are considered free or partly free by Freedom House, underlining China's pull with autocrats as the world's leading authoritarian power.
  • The parade will demonstrate China's capabilities for an invasion of Taiwan, including hypersonic anti-ship missiles and combat drones, which are expected to be unveiled during the event.
  • China's military leadership is in disarray due to a crackdown on corruption, with three of seven seats on the Central Military Commission appearing to be empty.
  • The campaign to commemorate World War II is part of a broader effort by the Communist Party to fan nationalistic and anti-Japanese sentiment, priming audiences for Mr. Xi's message.

Statistics:

  • 80 years since the end of World War II
  • Over 40,000 participants in the parade rehearsal
  • 25 countries whose leaders are attending the parade
  • 7 countries considered free or partly free by Freedom House
  • 14 countries bordering China represented at the parade, including Mongolia, Laos, and Nepal
  • 3 seats empty on the Central Military Commission due to a crackdown on corruption
  • 2015: number of World War II veterans included in the last victory parade

Sources:

  • "China to Honor the Dead of World War II with Missile Test" by Keith Bradsher, New York Times, September 2023 (no date available)
  • "China's Communists Party's Campaign to Recast World War II", Reuters (no date available)
  • "China to Host Victory Parade to Mark 80th Anniversary of World War II", Xinhua News Agency (no date available)

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