■ On September 3, China held its largest-ever military parade in Tiananmen Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia.
■ The event showcased advanced stealth fighters, hypersonic missiles, drones, and long-range nuclear weapons, underscoring China’s military modernization.
■ Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sat alongside Xi Jinping, highlighting a new geopolitical axis seen as defying the U.S.-led international order.
China marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia with a grand military parade in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on September 3, staging the largest display of military power in its modern history. The parade, themed “Victory Day”, combined historical commemoration with a powerful political message directed at the global stage.
Thousands of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops marched in precise formations while cutting-edge tanks, missile launchers, and armored vehicles rolled through the square. Overhead, stealth fighters, bombers, and hypersonic missiles were unveiled, alongside drone swarms, presenting a vivid picture of China’s military modernization and global ambitions.
On the reviewing stand, President Xi Jinping was flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Their presence sent a strong message of strategic alignment between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang, interpreted by many analysts as a symbolic challenge to the U.S.-led international order.
Analysts noted that the parade served multiple purposes: bolstering patriotism at home, demonstrating China’s advanced military capabilities abroad, and reinforcing its geopolitical partnerships. The event reflects Beijing’s determination to redefine its global role and signals rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific amid intensifying U.S.-China rivalry.
While domestically celebrated as a proud moment of history and strength, the spectacle is expected to fuel further debates internationally over the future of Asia’s security landscape and the stability of the global balance of power.
