As international conflicts continue to flare — most recently between Iran and Israel — China has announced it will hold a major military parade on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the defeat of Japanese forces in Asia.
The event, only the second such parade marking Victory over Japan Day, will take place in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and will coincide with broader celebrations honoring the global victory against fascism. The announcement was made by Hu Heping, deputy head of the Communist Party’s publicity department, during a press briefing on Tuesday.
The parade is expected to be a showcase of China’s latest military capabilities, with speculation already mounting about potential first-time appearances of advanced weapons systems. Videos circulating on Chinese social media suggest preparations are well underway, including footage showing at least 45 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) helicopters rehearsing in intricate formations — including shapes like hearts, the number “80,” and triads bearing red flags representing the Communist Party, the nation, and the PLA itself.
In addition to commemorating a historical milestone, the parade arrives at a time of heightened geopolitical volatility, making it a key platform for Beijing to project strength and national unity. The display will also be closely watched for signals about the PLA’s modernization and readiness, especially as tensions remain high in areas like the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
Adding to the international significance of the event, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China from August 31 to September 3, with a formal meeting scheduled with President Xi Jinping on September 2. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is also expected to attend, following Xi’s invitation during a meeting earlier this month, according to Belarusian state media.
Putin previously joined Xi for China’s first WWII Victory Day parade in 2015, which featured 12,000 PLA troops and more than 200 military aircraft. That event marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and drew leaders from around 30 countries, largely from the Global South.
Since then, China has held only one other military parade — in 2019, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Prior to Xi Jinping’s leadership, the country followed a pattern of staging one major parade per decade. Under Xi, however, military displays have become more frequent and symbolically significant, including naval parades in the South China Sea (2018) and the Yellow Sea (2019) to mark milestones in PLA Navy history.
China’s participation in Russia’s own WWII commemorations has also been notable. Xi attended Moscow’s Victory Day parade in May, marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany, and China sent ceremonial honor guards to events in both Moscow and Minsk.
Military analysts believe this year’s parade will likely feature the debut of China’s J-15T carrier-based fighter jets, recently spotted in formation during rehearsals. The 2015 parade unveiled now-familiar platforms like the J-15, H-6K bombers, and Z-10 attack helicopters, and experts expect a similar level of technological display this year.
