China held a grand military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, reaffirming the country’s commitment to peaceful development amid a turbulent and uncertain global environment.
Towering structures shaped like the Great Wall stood in Tian’anmen Square, symbolizing the Chinese nation’s courage and unity in resisting foreign aggression.
President Xi Jinping, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, oversaw the parade and reviewed the troops.
Standing alongside Xi on the Tian’anmen Rostrum were Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and more than 20 other foreign dignitaries.
Representatives and family members of those who had supported China’s WWII efforts—from countries including Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada—were invited to attend the event.
This marked the second military parade since 2015 commemorating the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Helicopters flew over Tian’anmen Square carrying banners reading “Justice Prevails,” “Peace Prevails,” and “The People Prevail.” Troops marched in tight, confident formations, while columns of tanks, artillery, and other military equipment rumbled through the square.
In his address, Xi emphasized the historical significance of the victory, calling it China’s first complete triumph against foreign aggression in modern times. He highlighted the immense sacrifices of the Chinese people and their contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defense of world peace, urging nations to “eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring.”
Japan officially surrendered on September 2, 1945, signing the Instrument of Surrender, while China observes Victory Day on September 3.
An 80-banner formation honoring heroic military units of the war marched past Tian’anmen Square, reflecting China’s status as the first country to resist fascist aggression, with the longest-lasting resistance beginning in 1931. China’s forces tied down and struck over half of Japan’s overseas troops, at the cost of 35 million military and civilian casualties—about one-third of all WWII casualties worldwide.
Over 10,000 military personnel, more than 100 aircraft, and hundreds of ground armaments participated in formations modeled on a wartime command system. The parade showcased the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) newly reformed system of services and arms, highlighting advancements in unmanned intelligence, counter-unmanned systems, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic global strike capabilities.
Xi stressed that the PLA must provide strategic support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He reiterated China’s commitment to peaceful development, warning that humanity again faces a choice between peace and war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games.
For the first time, Chinese soldiers who have served in UN peacekeeping missions marched in a V-Day parade. “We have the capability to defend the peace forged with the blood of our forefathers,” said Shao Xiaoguang, a member of the reviewed troops who served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This parade also marked the first since Xi launched China’s “new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts,” with the country aiming to achieve basic modernization by 2035.
“Eighty years ago, we were revived. Eighty years later, we are thriving with even greater vitality,” said Lyu Shouye, a graduate student and spectator at the event. “Now our country has reached a stage where we need to undertake greater responsibilities.”
