The parade, which served as both a strategic warning to would-be aggressors and an implicit commitment to peace, conveyed a clear message to the world about historical justice, the current state of the postwar international order and the future direction of world peace and development.
China held a massive military parade in central Beijing on Sept. 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II. (Photo: Xinhua/Fei Maohua)
On Sept. 3 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China staged a grand military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It was not merely a military ceremony or a historical commemoration. It was a celebration that conveyed a clear message to the world about historical justice, the current state of the postwar international order, and the future direction of world peace and development.
First, reinforcing China’s view of World War II-era history is central to the parade’s message to the world. In recent years, some countries, driven by geopolitical self-interest, have pursued historical revisionism. They have attempted to erase China’s contribution to the war, and peddled ideas that disregard its role and promote West-centric views, such as a six-year time frame — which narrowly define the start of World War II as the 1939 German invasion of Poland and ignore the historical fact of Japan’s 1931 aggression against China. The view that presents Japan as a victim has even gained some traction. The military parade serves as a powerful correction to these errors of history.
As the core force on the main battlefield of Asia, China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression started earliest, lasted longest, destroyed the most Japanese troops and involved the greatest sacrifices. It played a decisive role in defeating the Japanese fascists. From the Marco Polo Bridge Incident to the end of the war in 1945, the proportion of the Japanese army deployed to the Chinese battlefield reached above 90 percent of the aggressors’ total strength at its peak.
From the the September 18th Incident to the end of the war, China eliminated more than 1.5 million Japanese troops, accounting for more that 70 percent of the enemy’s total casualties in World War II.
To resist Japanese aggression, China suffered more than 35 million military and civilian casualties, with direct economic losses exceeding $100 billion and indirect losses surpassing $500 billion. These facts strongly refute the historical nihilism implicit in some Western historiography, such as the notion that China relied on the Allies for salvation.
Japan’s political right-wing is currently engaged in highly misleading behavior, including textbook revisionism, politicians paying homage to high-ranking war dead at Yasukuni Shrine, diplomatic efforts to whitewash war crimes and peddling the notion of a U.S.-Japan conclusion of the Pacific War.
The parade was an important demonstration of the spirit of safeguarding the foundation of the postwar international order. Moreover, the attendance of 26 foreign heads of state and government leaders, along with 50 descendants of international allies (including family representatives of the Flying Tigers and Norman Bethune), elevated China’s commemoration into a transnational symbol of justice. It vividly embodied the political principle that those who uphold a righteous cause will gain widespread support. It declared that historical truth must not be distorted and accurate memory must be defended.
Second, the parade displayed China’s military capabilities and underscored its defensive posture. All the weaponry and equipment showcased was domestically produced, with active-duty gear and a new generation of equipment forming the backbone.
A high proportion of the equipment made its public debut. Advanced weaponry such as the hypersonic anti-ship missile Eagle Strike series and laser and microwave weapons for countering drones were unveiled. Systems such as Thunderbolt-1, Giant Wave-3 and Dongfeng-61 collectively constitute China's formidable force for strategic deterrence. These advanced weapons are crucial for combat effectiveness and show the Chinese military’s successful transition from a quantity-and-scale model to a focus on quality and efficiency, and from labor-intensive to technology-intensive. Against the backdrop of the rapid evolution of modern warfare, the Chinese military’s demonstrated capabilities in information- and intelligence-based operations provide a solid material foundation for safeguarding national security and world peace.
A strong Chinese military offers a reliable guarantee for repelling external aggression and defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It has emerged as a stabilizing force for world peace. China has consistently emphasized the defensive nature of its military modernization. Its robust national defense is not for aggression or expansion but for protecting the country and its people, while also providing security benefits for regional and global peace.
Third, China is promoting global governance and addressing the global security deficit. The current landscape is undergoing rapid changes unseen in a century. The changes in the world, the times and history are unfolding in unprecedented ways, ushering the world into a new period of turbulence and transformation. New trends have emerged in the global security situation and governance. Common security challenges facing humanity have become more complex and severe.
China has always adhered to the concept of peaceful development. It will never seek hegemony, expansion or spheres of influence. It firmly upholds the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Contributing more peacekeeping troops than any other permanent member of the UN Security Council, China faithfully fulfills its commitment to maintaining world peace.
The Global Security Initiative advocates a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security outlook and offers feasible ways to address the global security deficit. The vision of a community with a shared future for mankind focuses on common human interests and encourages the international community to jointly tackle global challenges. China is also committed to the political settlement of regional and international hot spot issues, achieving important results such as the reconciliation and resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and the internal reconciliation of Palestinian factions. Addressing the Ukraine crisis, China has repeatedly sent special envoys to mediate, build consensus for a cease-fire and pave the way for peace talks.
These concepts and actions echo the peaceful development signals sent by the military parade. They demonstrate China’s determination to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. Through its concrete actions, China has shown its willingness to work with other countries to promote a more just and rational development of the global governance system and contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to world peace and prosperity.
Fourth, the parade served as a profound reflection on historical lessons and a strategic warning for future challenges. Faced with a recent resurgence of Japanese militarism and rising risks in the Taiwan Strait, the parade conveyed an unmistakable bottom-line logic.
Japan’s 2025 Defense White Paper lists China as an “unprecedented major strategic challenge.” Tokyo’s accelerated push for constitutional revisions and military expansion includes a warning that anything that happens to Taiwan would warrant Japan’s intervention, even as the country denies its history of aggression. This poses a serious challenge to the postwar international order. The military parade, with its overwhelming military technological superiority and combat capabilities, creates a psychological and material firewall to deter historical revisionism. The concentrated display of advanced weaponry, such as hypersonic anti-ship missiles and long-range precision strike capabilities, sends a crystal-clear signal to anyone who might attempt to intervene over the Taiwan question. China’s goal of complete national reunification is solid as a rock, and its capability is unshakable. China will not allow any force to separate Taiwan from China, and will not brook any leeway for Taiwan independence in any form.
The Sept.3 military parade has had a far-reaching and profound influence globally. It showcased China’s strength and sense of responsibility, enhanced the international community’s understanding of its contributions to the war effort, propelled the dissemination of the concept of peaceful development and reminded the world to remember history and unite in collaboration.
Looking ahead, China will continue to embrace a philosophy of peaceful development. Underpinned by its robust capabilities, China will join hands with countries around the world to make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind and safeguarding world peace and development.
