Beijing: China will stage a major military parade in central Beijing next month to commemorate 80 years since the end of World War II and to showcase new Chinese weaponry, state media reported. The parade is set for September 3 and will be the second such event since 2015, marking Japan’s surrender in 1945.
Hundreds of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, along with ground forces equipped with the latest weapons systems, will participate, officials said at a news conference on Wednesday.
China’s Xinhua news agency said the parade and “joint armament formations… will be organised in a manner reflecting their functions in real combat,” encompassing air, land, and sea combat groups.
According to the state-affiliated Global Times, the event will focus on “new fourth-generation equipment as the core,” including advanced tanks, carrier-based aircraft, and fighter jets. All equipment is domestically produced and represents active-duty main battle systems, the report added.
A new layout of the structure of Chinese armed forces will be displayed for the first time at the upcoming V-Day military parade, according to a press conference on Wednesday. Read update: https://t.co/fzwKYSrJc3 pic.twitter.com/bjI4CKMRCc
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 20, 2025
Foreign military attaches and analysts expect the parade to showcase new technologies such as anti-drone military trucks, early warning aircraft for carrier protection, and potentially hypersonic and anti-ship missile systems. The display is likely to attract close attention from the United States and its allies, given China’s expanding missile capabilities.
The “Victory Day” parade will involve 45 contingents of troops, taking approximately 70 minutes to pass President Xi Jinping in Tiananmen Square. Xi will be joined by invited foreign leaders and dignitaries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also attended the 2015 anniversary parade.
Chinese authorities have increased security across downtown Beijing since early August. Measures include checkpoints, road closures, and temporary shutdowns of shopping malls and office buildings. Large-scale parade rehearsals began earlier this month to prepare for the event.
