China is gearing up for its most extensive military parade in six years, promising the debut of a new generation of advanced weaponry as the country commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The event, scheduled for September 3 in Beijing, will feature more than 10,000 troops, over 100 aircraft, and several hundred ground vehicles, according to Maj. Gen. Xu Guizhong, executive deputy director of the Parade Command Office. Xu emphasized that all equipment on display would be battle-ready and domestically produced, with a large proportion making their first public appearance.
(From Chinese social media)
Among the anticipated highlights are hypersonic missile systems, unmanned undersea drones, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and next-generation air and missile defense technologies. Parade rehearsals have already shown glimpses of missile carriers and underwater vehicles covered in tarpaulins, fueling speculation among military analysts.
The parade will also feature traditional formations of tanks, fighter jets, and infantry, showcasing the breadth of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). For military watchers, the event is seen as a major opportunity to assess China’s rapid military modernization under President Xi Jinping. Since 2019, the PLA has advanced to rival — and in some areas surpass — the United States in critical capabilities, according to defense analysts.
(From Chinese social media)
The last major military parade in 2019 unveiled several cutting-edge systems, including a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile and a medium-range missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle. This year’s event is expected to go further, underscoring Beijing’s ambitions to project power regionally and globally.
Public anticipation within China is high, with many users on the microblogging platform Weibo calling for a national holiday to watch the live broadcast. “Can we get a day off to watch the live broadcast?” one user posted, drawing thousands of likes. Another commented: “Only 70 minutes? That’s not enough to watch!”
As the countdown begins, Chinese officials have promised additional details in the days ahead, though they remain tight-lipped about the exact models to be showcased.
“More information will be available soon,” Maj. Gen. Xu said, urging both domestic and international audiences to stay tuned.
