China is preparing to hold a majestic military parade on September 3, 2025, in Tian’anmen Square, to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan in World War II — an event designed to showcase both national unity and strategic power to the international community. The parade will feature tens of thousands of soldiers organized into 45 formations, alongside hundreds of aircraft, tanks, drones, and high-tech equipment, in a spectacle lasting about 70 minutes.
It will be the most significant event of its kind since the last major parade in 2015. Among the weaponry on display will be hypersonic missiles, YJ series precision missiles, aerial, naval, and ground drones, electronic warfare systems, unmanned platforms, and new-generation tanks equipped with active protection and automatic turrets, as well as early-warning aircraft and state-of-the-art missile defense systems.
Also expected is the presentation of the Fujian aircraft carrier, China’s most advanced, equipped with electromagnetic catapults and designed to expand naval operations across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, cementing its status as a symbol of the country’s growing maritime power. President Xi Jinping will preside over the ceremony, with international leaders expected to attend, including Russian President Vladimir Putin — sending a message of strategic closeness between Beijing and Moscow.
In contrast, many Western leaders are unlikely to be present. The event’s organization has been accompanied by strict security measures in Beijing, including controls in streets, public transport, and residential areas, in addition to ongoing military rehearsals that have captured public attention.
Japan, for its part, has voiced criticism of the event and urged other countries not to participate, warning that the parade could be interpreted as a symbol of militarism — a stance that further raises diplomatic tensions in the region.
Beyond its commemorative purpose, this parade represents a clear demonstration of military strength, intended to reinforce China’s image as a power capable of defending its strategic interests in an international landscape marked by territorial disputes and technological rivalries.
