Last updated on September 5, 2025
BEIJING: Goose-stepping troops, armoured convoys and roaring fighter jets filled Tiananmen Square today as China staged a massive military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, unveiling some of its most advanced strategic weapons in a globally watched show of power.
The spectacle, framed as wartime remembrance, doubled as a showcase of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) modernisation drive, with cutting-edge hypersonic missiles, stealth aircraft, unmanned systems, and upgraded armour taking centre stage.
Xi’s message: peace or war
Wearing a grey Mao suit, President Xi Jinping presided over the ceremony alongside top party leaders and visiting dignitaries, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Western leaders were notably absent.
Delivering a speech from the Tiananmen rostrum, Xi warned:
“Today, humanity once again faces a choice: peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, mutual benefit or zero-sum rivalry.”
He vowed that China would stay on the path of “peaceful development” and “work hand in hand with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
Weapons that drew the loudest cheers
While the parade honoured China’s WWII sacrifices, with veterans saluted by the crowd. It was the military hardware that electrified spectators, many craning to capture the moment before being gently ushered down by security.
Among the highlights:
Hypersonic & long-range missiles
- YJ-15 anti-ship missile
- YJ-19 hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile
- YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile, dubbed a potential “aircraft carrier killer”
- DF-17 hypersonic missile with manoeuvrable glide vehicle
- DF-26D “Guam Killer”, capable of striking US territory and carrier groups
- DF-61, DF-31BJ and DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)
- JL-3 submarine-launched missile and Jinglei-1 air-launched missile, rounding out China’s nuclear triad
Next-generation aircraft
- J-20S twin-seat stealth fighter, designed to team with drones
- J-35 stealth fighter
- H-6J long-range bomber
Armour & land systems
- Type 99B main battle tank, upgraded to counter drone warfare
- Armoured formations demonstrating mobility in high-altitude conditions
Unmanned systems & counter-drone tech
- Reconnaissance-strike UAVs and “loyal wingman” drones
- Counter-drone interceptors, high-energy lasers, and microwave weapons
New branches of the PLA
- Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, and Information Support Force, highlighting China’s expanding focus on space, cyber and high-tech warfare
Global optics
The parade also highlighted China’s convening power, with Putin and Kim positioned beside Xi in a symbolic tableau of leaders challenging the Western-led order. At the same time, Beijing emphasised the parade as a “Victory Day” remembrance, honouring the 35 million Chinese casualties of WWII.
Yet, the deployment of unmanned ships, hypersonic missiles and nuclear-capable systems underscored a different message: China’s military has arrived at the forefront of next-generation warfare.
As one attendee told CNA: “The war years were bitter and full of hardship, but today is a different story. Events like this remind us of that history – and ensure we never repeat it.”
