China Prepares to Unveil Advanced Weaponry at WWII Anniversary Military Parade
China is preparing for its largest military parade in six years, set to showcase advanced weaponry as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations marking the end of World War II.
The parade, slated for September 3 in Beijing, will involve over 10,000 troops, more than 100 aircraft, and several hundred ground vehicles, as noted by Maj. Gen. Xu Guizhong, executive deputy director of the Parade Command Office. Xu highlighted that all equipment would be battle-ready and domestically manufactured, with many items being shown publicly for the first time.
(From Chinese social media)
Highlights of the parade are expected to include hypersonic missile systems, unmanned undersea drones, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and next-generation air and missile defense technologies. Rehearsals have shown glimpses of missile carriers and underwater vehicles under tarpaulins, sparking interest among military analysts.
Traditional formations of tanks, fighter jets, and infantry will also be part of the display, reflecting the extensive capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The event is viewed by military observers as a vital chance to evaluate China’s swift military modernization under President Xi Jinping. Since 2019, the PLA has progressed to match — and in some areas, exceed — the United States in essential capabilities, according to defense experts.
(From Chinese social media)
The previous major parade in 2019 introduced several state-of-the-art systems, including a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile and a medium-range missile featuring a hypersonic glide vehicle. This year's event aims to further emphasize Beijing's aspirations to project power both regionally and globally.
Excitement within China is high, with many users on the microblogging platform Weibo expressing a desire for a national holiday to view the live broadcast. “Can we get a day off to watch the live broadcast?” one user queried, garnering thousands of likes. Another remarked: “Only 70 minutes? That’s not enough to watch!”
As the event approaches, Chinese officials have promised to release more details soon, though they remain reserved about the specific models to be featured.
“More information will be available soon,” Maj. Gen. Xu stated, encouraging both domestic and international audiences to stay informed.
