Updated at\u00a022.23 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n We are going to wrap up our live coverage of the military parade in Beijing. Thanks for following along. Our full report on the day\u2019s events can be found here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Some more observations from military analysts, who were keenly watching the parade for signs of new Chinese advancements.<\/p>\n A key takeaway for Ying-Yu Lin, an associate professor at the institute of international affairs and strategic studies at Tamkang University in Taiwan, was a growing emphasis on counter drone systems, and airborne early warning aircraft.<\/p>\n \u201cI think these changes come from lessons drawn from the Russia\u2013Ukraine war, where we saw drones being widely used. For the PLA, this has meant integrating its electro-optical and radar systems into counter-drone applications,\u201d Lin told the Guardian.<\/p>\n \u201cThe clear message they want to send is that their air force now has the ability to conduct system-of-systems operations,\u201d he said, referring to multiple independent systems that coordinate for a joint purpose.<\/p>\n Raymond Kuo, senior political scientist and director at Rand Corporation, said the range of missiles on display showed progress in China\u2019s efforts to build a \u201ctriad\u201d of systems.<\/p>\n He said China had developed fields of siloes holding ICMB launchers deep inside Chinese territory, but they had weaknesses. \u201cThey\u2019re relatively slow to prepare and launch, and everyone knows exactly where they are,\u201d said Kuo.<\/p>\n To compliment them, China has planes – like the H6 bombers mentioned earlier – that can fire missiles from the sky, and sea-launch missiles that rely on stealth, like the new JL3 ICBM noted by ex PLA colonel Zhou Bo.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can potentially get a nuclear submarine right up to the border [of your target] and then launch with about five minutes warning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cEach leg of the triad offsets a problem found in the others.\u201d<\/p>\n Kuo also said there were clear signs of China building its nuclear arsenal, no longer satisfied with just having enough to back up its doctrine of no first strike, and minimal retaliation.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re no longer comfortable with the US having more nuclear weapons, and they want to make sure silos don\u2019t get knocked out and if they do they can strike back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Jason Tzu Kuan Lu. <\/p>\n Share<\/a>Event summary<\/p>\n Thank you for keeping up with our coverage of China\u2019s victory day parade in Beijing. Here\u2019s a breakdown of today\u2019s key events:<\/p>\n China\u2019s Xi Jinping hosted a large military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war.<\/p>\n Dozens of world leaders attended the event in Beijing, but almost none from major western countries.<\/p>\n Among those attending were the leaders of Myanmar and Iran.<\/p>\n The major moment happened before the parade even started, when Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un stood either side of Xi Jinping as they made their way to their seats \u2013 making for a powerful photo op.<\/p>\n Donald Trump was not happy and posted on Truth Social to vent, saying \u201cPlease give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin<\/a> and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against The United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump had earlier told reporters he did not see the parade as a challenge to the United States and reiterated his \u201cvery good relationship\u201d with Xi.<\/p>\n Xi addressed crowds gathered at Tiananmen Square in a short speech, in which he said the world \u201chas to choose between peace and war\u201d and warned China was \u201cunstoppable\u201d.<\/p>\n Xi said the Chinese people were \u201con the right side of history\u201d.<\/p>\n The Chinese leader then surveyed PLA troops from an open-topped car, before returning to his seat.<\/p>\n An array of land, sea and sky military equipment were displayed in the parade, which ended with the release of 80,000 doves.<\/p>\n Kim Jong-un travelled to the event with his daughter Kim Ju-ae, whom South Korean intelligence consider his most likely successor.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.53 EDT<\/p>\n Some more images of Putin at the parade:<\/p>\n Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to attend the military parade Photograph: Sergey Bobylev\/ReutersPutin in Beijing Photograph: Sergey Bobylev\/ReutersPutin, Xi and Kim Photograph: Alexander Kazakov\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier, we reported that former Australian Labor state premier Bob Carr was attending the parade with Dan Andrews.<\/p>\n We can now clarify that Carr is in Beijing, but not at the parade.<\/p>\n The Sydney Morning Herald reported Carr is attending separate indoor events later in the day to mark the 80th anniversary of China\u2019s role in World War II. He is also addressing two Chinese international relations think tanks.<\/p>\n Carr said from China:<\/p>\n I told the Chinese I wouldn\u2019t be attending the parade but that I\u2019d like to accelerate arrangements to talk to think-tanks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.22 EDT<\/p>\n There were almost no western leaders among the 26 foreign heads of state attending the victory day parade, despite China\u2019s partnership with the Allied powers in the Pacific Theatre during the second world war.<\/p>\n There was an exception in the invite of Robert Fico, prime minister of Slovakia \u2013 a member of the European Union. Serbia\u2019s president Aleksander Vucic also attended the parade.<\/p>\n The Serbian and Slovakian leaders are both friendly with Russia.<\/p>\n Slovakia\u2019s prime minister Robert Fico. Photograph: Jade Gao\/APShare<\/a> As the dignitaries filed in \u2013 with Xi, Putin and Kim in the lead \u2013 the state media broadcast noted the presence of war veterans, including some from Taiwan.<\/p>\n The anniversary has underscored some less-discussed aspects of the Taiwan China<\/a> tensions.<\/p>\n The second world war came to China \u2013 then known as the Republic of China (ROC) – while the country was in the midst of its own civil war, between the ROC rulers, the Kuomintang, and the newly formed Chinese Communist party. The two sides paused their battle fight alongside each other against Japan.<\/p>\n After Japan surrendered, Taiwan, which had been ruled by Japan, was returned to the ROC. But the civil war had resumed, and soon, the CCP took control of the mainland and the ROC\u2019s KMT leaders fled to Taiwan. The CCP established the People\u2019s Republic of China, and the KMT established the ROC government in exile, intending to regroup and one day retake the mainland (spoiler: they didn\u2019t).<\/p>\n This is the very simplified background to the CCP\u2019s claim over Taiwan today.<\/p>\n But when it comes to the second world war, the two sides are also in dispute over who really led the fight against Japan.<\/p>\n Beijing has mounted a campaign to emphasise the \u201ccorrect view\u201d of the history, emphasising that China and Soviet Russia played a pivotal role, and claiming that the CCP\u2019s wartime efforts were \u201cdeliberately belittled and vilified\u201d. Throughout the summer cinemas showed blockbusters that celebrated the battles fought by China against fascist aggressors, prompting a wave of patriotism among viewers.<\/p>\n War medals are seen on a military veteran as they attend a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square on September 03, 2025, in Beijing, China. Photograph: Lintao Zhang\/Getty Images<\/p>\n In Taiwan, officials say the fight was mostly led by the KMT and its leader, Chiang Kai-shek, noting that they were the ones to sign peace agreements as allied nations.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the Republic of China\u2019s war of resistance against Japan, the People\u2019s Republic of China did not even exist, but the Chinese communist regime has in recent years repeatedly distorted the facts, claiming it was the [Chinese] Communist Party who led the war of resistance,\u201d Mainland Affairs Council minister Chiu Chui-cheng said last month.<\/p>\n The council said the communists\u2019 strategy at the time was \u201c70% about strengthening themselves, 20% dealing with the Nationalist government and 10% about opposing Japan,\u201d repeating an old wartime accusation against Mao the CCP has denied.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.11 EDT<\/p>\n A new photograph has emerged showing Dan Andrews, the former Labor premier of the Australian state of Victoria, standing among global leaders before the parade.<\/p>\n You can spot him in the back right corner, behind Putin, Xi and Kim.<\/p>\n Another former Labor state premier, Bob Carr of New South Wales, is also reportedly a guest at the parade.<\/p>\n Critics, including opposition leader Sussan Ley, say the pair risk being used in CCP propaganda.<\/p>\n But Carr told The Australian <\/a>his attendance was in recognition of China and Australia\u2019s shared second world war history, arguing that Chinese resistance defended Australia from direct naval assault by Japan.<\/p>\n Carr led the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney from 2014 to 2019.<\/p>\n Andrews signed Victoria on to China\u2019s belt and road initiative<\/a>, before it was vetoed by the Morrison government.<\/p>\n Leaders pose for a group photo ahead of a military parade in Beijing, China. Photograph: Sergei Bobylev\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.59 EDT<\/p>\n Military hardware on display There\u2019s an extraordinary amount of military hardware on display.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve seen everything from tanks and drones to long-range and nuclear capable missiles, fighter jets and stealth aircraft. The long-distance nuclear capable H6 bombers, and the J-16 and J-20 fighters (most often seen running harassment sorties into Taiwan\u2019s air defence identification zone) are among the planes doing flyover displays above the square.<\/p>\n New stealth fighters are also flying V formations, a livestream from inside cockpits showing pilots giving a salute as they fly past.<\/p>\n China Parade There were reports of the J15-DT – China\u2019s new carrier-based electronic warfare also appearing. The development of the new aircraft has been closely watched by military observers.<\/a><\/p>\n The Dongfeng-61 missile was noted by some analysts.<\/p>\n It is a hypersonic, road mobile missile with a vertical erector, which one analyst said made it \u201cmuch harder to spot and therefore hit prior to launch\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a hypersonic, it\u2019s much harder to track and shoot down before it hits its target,\u201d the analyst said<\/p>\n Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam school of international studies said:<\/p>\n The parade is a clear demonstration of the PLA\u2019s expanding capabilities in both strategic and conventional domains which is intended to give the United States, Europe and China\u2019s neighbours pause should they consider challenging China\u2019s core national interests.<\/p>\n Zhou Bo, a retired senior Chinese army colonel, said the parade was \u201ceye-opening\u201d in terms of China\u2019s advancement.<\/p>\n He said the ICBMs \u2013 Intercontinental ballistic missiles \u2013 are impressive but seen before.<\/p>\n The JL3 ICBM, which can be launched from under the sea, \u201cis something new\u201d and \u201cvery impressive\u201d, he told China\u2019s state media CGTN.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.43 EDT<\/p>\n Parade ends<\/p>\n The parade has now ended, balloons are being released into the sky en masse.<\/p>\n Balloons and doves are released into the air during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square on September 03, 2025, in Beijing, China. Photograph: Lintao Zhang\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.34 EDT<\/p>\n For readers who are not hardware-heads, a new range of military equipment is making its public debut today.<\/p>\n An aerial display of military aircraft is moving through the sky in a V formation, leaving a trail of brightly coloured smoke.<\/p>\n A flock of doves has just been released into the sky.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at some of the hardware on display today:<\/p>\n The HSU100 unmanned underwater vehicle is seen during a military parade Photograph: Pedro Pardo\/AFP\/Getty ImagesHypersonic missiles Photograph: Ng Han Guan\/APShare<\/a>Snap analysis: Xi’s speech Xi Jinping\u2019s short speech praised the \u201chuge national sacrifice\u201d of the Chinese people in fighting the war, but it also contained messages for today\u2019s world.<\/p>\n Chinese people rallied together to defy the enemy \u2026 Today humanity again has to choose between peace and war.<\/p>\n He said China<\/a> was a great nation which \u201cis never intimidated by any bullies and always values independence and forges ahead\u201d, according to the state media translation. He said the past showed that Chinese people always rally together \u201cto defy the enemy\u201d when faced with adversity.<\/p>\n Xi\u2019s speech contained several references to the \u201crejuvenation of the Chinese nation\u201d \u2013 a common phrase for Xi\u2019s overarching plan for China\u2019s future which hinges on Taiwan.<\/p>\n Xi and the CCP claim Taiwan is a Chinese province, now run by illegal separatists, and he has vowed to annex it under what he terms \u201creunification\u201d. Taiwan\u2019s government and people are opposed to this.<\/p>\n But Xi\u2019s speech, while not specifically referencing Taiwan, makes it very clear that it\u2019s still high on his agenda. He has pledged that China will take Taiwan by military force if necessary \u2013 and the parade display is also a strong demonstration of military capabilities.<\/p>\n The People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) has been undergoing modernisation under Xi, but it is also been beset by corruption issues, and in the last few years there have been purges of officials and personnel at levels not seen since the Mao Zedong era.<\/p>\n Xi seemed to reference that in his speech too, with a line that could be read as reassurance to people worried about it, and a warning to those inside the force.<\/p>\n The Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army has been and always will be the heroic armed forces that the party and the people can fully trust and rely on. All service members should faithfully perform their sacred duties, speed up the building of a world class military, and firmly safeguard China\u2019s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n![\"Xi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4935.jpg\")
Xi Jinping (C) walks alongside Russia\u2019s president Vladimir Putin (centre L) and North Korea\u2019s leader Kim Jong-un (centre R). Photograph: Pedro Pardo\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Helen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Helen_Davidson.png\")
Helen Davidson<\/p>\nHelen Davidson<\/p>\nHelen Davidson<\/p>\n
Military equipment passes during the military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Photograph: Ng Han Guan\/AP<\/p>\nHelen Davidson<\/p>\n