Beijing to Stage 80th WWII Victory Parade Showcasing Modern PLA

Beijing is preparing for a massive display of military capability on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, with President Xi Jinping inspecting troops in Tiananmen Square as hundreds of aircraft and cutting-edge ground systems roll through the capital. The event, described by officials as a demonstration of modern warfare in action, will also feature high-profile foreign attendance, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting ongoing diplomatic signaling around regional security and great-power competition.

The parade is expected to last about 70 minutes and will involve dozens of contingents marching past the reviewing stand. Officials say the showcase will emphasize the PLA’s evolution into a modern, technologically integrated force. A senior military official described the lineup as intentionally structured to reflect real combat roles, with air, land and sea components coordinated into operational modules. The event is designed not only to commemorate history but to project China’s military approach to future warfare and its ability to sustain a high tempo of modernization.

A central feature of the program will be the debut and...