BEIJING – China on Wednesday staged a massive military parade in Beijing as part of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s formal surrender in World War II, highlighting the unity among President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
In the capital’s Tiananmen Square, Xi, dressed in a Mao suit, urged the country’s military to build itself into a “world-class” force and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty. He also vowed that China would remain committed to a path of peaceful development.
Xi’s demonstration of solidarity with Putin and Kim at the events, shunned by the leaders of major Western countries, is likely to be viewed as a challenge to the United States under President Donald Trump.
In his speech, Xi stressed the “huge national sacrifice” made in what China calls the 1937-1945 War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and highlighted the “major contributions” of Chinese people to safeguarding world peace. He called on all nations to prevent a repeat of historical tragedies.
“Today humanity again has to choose between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, win-win cooperation and a zero-sum game. The Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history,” Xi said, pledging peaceful development.
He also urged people to remain united to “build China into a great country” and realize a “great national rejuvenation.”
In addition to Putin and Kim, more than 20 foreign leaders including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Myanmar junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing were also invited.
From Japan, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was invited as a former top official with no affiliation to the current government under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
In the 70-minute parade, a selection of new-generation weapons including fighter jets, unmanned intelligence equipment and hypersonic missiles was showcased. All the armaments on display were domestically made and in active service, according to the Chinese military.
China last staged a large-scale parade in 2019 to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China. In 2015, similar events were held in Tiananmen Square to mark 70 years since the end of the war, which were also attended by Xi, Putin and other dignitaries.
According to Chinese media, Mao Zedong, the founder of modern China, was joined by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung at a military parade in Beijing in October 1959 to commemorate the 10th anniversary.
Security for the events was extremely tight, with traffic restrictions in place, and subway and bus services halted in downtown Beijing.
BY: The Times Union
