Massive WWII parade in China to exhibit military personnel and advanced weapons technology

China to Host Second World War Victory Day Parade on September 3

China is set to host its second World War II Victory Day parade on September 3, 2023, with President Xi Jinping surveying the proceedings at Tiananmen Square. The event will showcase the military's ability to adapt to technological advancements and changing warfare patterns.

Over 12,000 soldiers from various countries, including Russia, Belarus, Mongolia, Cambodia, and Taiwan, participated in the last World War II parade in Beijing. This year, the parade will feature hundreds of aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, and will demonstrate China's expanding suite of missiles, particularly anti-ship versions and hypersonic weapons.

Staff sergeant Lan Yu, a peacekeeping force member who was deployed to South Sudan in 2019, has been practicing maneuvers in formation for the parade. This will be Lan Yu's first time representing the peacekeeping force in a parade.

The parade's foreign attendees are yet to be officially announced, but former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and former British prime minister Tony Blair were among the foreign attendees in the 2015 parade. It is worth noting that then-Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe declined to attend the 2015 parade.

Beijing has conducted two large-scale rehearsals for the parade, attended by 22,000 and 40,000 people involving troops, police, and spectators. Authorities have increased security in downtown Beijing for the upcoming parade, setting up checkpoints, diverting traffic, and shutting malls and office buildings.

The event is expected to display a host of new weapons and equipment from the People's Liberation Army. High-tech armaments such as precision-strike weapons capable of traveling at five times the speed of sound will be featured.

In the context of concerns about China's growing military, the country is described as a 'peace-loving' nation. Despite some western leaders not attending the 2015 parade due to concerns about China's exhibition of military might, this year's parade will see the presence of a number of foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The exact number of troops, weapons, and equipment to be showcased remains undisclosed. However, the parade serves as a testament to China's military prowess and its commitment to peace and stability.