Today, China organized a Victory Day military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. China used the occasion to show off its new weaponry and make a signal about how it sees itself as an emerging counterweight in a world order driven by the United States. As troops, missiles, planes, and drones flew by, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stood next to China’s Xi Jinping on Tiananmen.
Among the headline systems were the YJ-15 hypersonic anti-ship missile and a new extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle, the AJX002, described as a stealthy sea drone a little over 18 meters long. China also paraded three nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles—the DF-61, DF-31BJ and DF-5C—plus what was billed as the country’s first air-launched nuclear missile, the JL-1. Euronews reported that Chinese media claim the silo-based DF-5C’s range exceeds 20,000 km and can carry up to a dozen warheads. The parade further included the HQ-29, presented as a space-defense interceptor with anti-satellite capability.
State media Xinhua framed the event as the first full public presentation of China’s “nuclear triad,” displaying air-, sea- and land-based strategic forces, including the JingLei-1 (air-launched), JuLang-3 (submarine-launched) and the DF-61/DF-31 series (land-based). Units from newer branches—the Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, Information Support Force and Joint Logistics Support Force—also marched, signaling organizational reforms alongside hardware upgrades.
The pageantry opened with an 80-gun salute and a flag-raising before more than 10,000 troops, over 100 aircraft and columns of armor moved along Chang’an Avenue. Crowds in Tiananmen Square watched helicopter flyovers trailing banners such as “Justice Prevails” and “Peace Prevails.”
In a keynote speech, Xi said the world again faces a choice “between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation,” and urged countries to “eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring.” He coupled that message with a call for the People’s Liberation Army to provide “strategic support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
The commemoration falls one day after the Sept. 2, 1945 signing of the Instrument of Surrender. China observes Sept. 3 as Victory Day.
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