On Wednesday, China hosted its most extensive military parade to date at Tiananmen, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Starting at 9 AM (6:45 AM IST), the parade epitomized China’s military prowess and future strength.
President Xi Jinping welcomed several foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, often viewed as adversaries of the United States.
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) displayed its modern military capabilities, featuring drones, hypersonic missiles, and fighter jets.
Hundreds of PLA aircraft participated as 45 military contingents marched across Tiananmen Square, saluting President Xi Jinping. The parade, lasting about 70 minutes, included a potential address from Xi Jinping.
Also Read:
The presence of Putin, Kim, and Xi in Beijing was seen as a direct message to America and former President Donald Trump, who previously sought to bring Putin and Kim into his fold. Meanwhile, Japan urged world leaders to skip the event, prompting strong diplomatic objections from China.
Leaders at the Parade Perceived as American Adversaries
China last held a Victory Day Parade a decade ago. This 80th-anniversary event was more grandiose, with 26 foreign leaders in attendance.
Notable attendees included Russia’s Putin, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iran’s President Masoud Pejeskyan, Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Mongolia’s President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, and Belarus’s President Alexander Lukashenko.
Kim Jong-un Travels by Armored Train
Also present were Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Alexander Vučić from Europe. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in China by special train for the parade.
Source: aajtak
This was a historic occasion as no North Korean leader had attended a Chinese military parade in 66 years since Kim Jong-un's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, in 1959.
Also Read: China's Victory Day Parade: Show of Strength with Putin and Kim Jong-un, Message to America
Source: aajtak
Tiananmen Square was lavishly decorated for the occasion. For the first time, the PLA showcased its high-profile modern weapons, claiming capabilities equivalent to the U.S. military. The event is seen as a demonstration of China’s global power and an effort to solidify Xi Jinping’s standing.
