BEIJING (Dispatches) -- China held a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging the country’s commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties. 

Towering structures shaped like the Great Wall, crowned with giant numerals “1945” and “2025,” stood in Tian’anmen Square, symbolizing the Chinese nation’s courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression.

Standing beside Xi on Tian’anmen Rostrum were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, along with more than 20 other foreign leaders, some of whom attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in the city of Tianjin earlier this week.

Representatives of people who had supported China’s resistance endeavors, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- were invited to the event.

This was the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to mark the hard-won victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Xi delivered a speech before the parade. Highlighting the significance of the victory 80 years ago, Xi said it marks China’s first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times.

Xi noted that the Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defense of world peace with immense sacrifice in the war. He called on nations to “eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring.”

Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day.

In his speech, Xi demanded that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) provide strategic support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He urged the PLA to build itself into world-class forces and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

The 70-minute military parade demonstrated the transformation of the armed forces from a “millet-and-rifle” army to a modern military. It was attended by more than 10,000 soldiers, over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, organized under a wartime command system.

The PLA’s new structure of services and arms made its collective debut, showcasing the outcomes of a sweeping military reform under Xi’s leadership.

The advanced armaments put on display included unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, and electronic jamming systems.

In Wednesday’s parade, China unveiled its land-, sea-, and air-based strategic forces as the nuclear triad for the first time. The armaments, hailed as China’s strategic “ace” power to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and national dignity, included JingLei-1 air-based long-range missile, JuLang-3 submarine-launched intercontinental missile, DongFeng-61 land-based intercontinental missile, and new type DongFeng-31 land-based intercontinental missile.

 

Trump Accuses Xi, Kim, Putin of Conspiring Against U.S.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, of conspiring against the U.S. with the leaders of Russia and North Korea as the Chinese president hosted foreign leaders at a major military parade in Beijing.

“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” Trump said on his Truth Social site, referring to the leaders of Russia and North Korea, without elaborating.

Trump also questioned whether Xi would credit the U.S. in a speech on Wednesday before the parade for the “massive amount of support” it allegedly provided to China during World War II.

“Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory,” Trump claimed.

President Xi ultimately didn’t directly mention the U.S., though he offered his gratitude toward unspecified nations that helped Beijing.

On Wednesday, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said he hoped U.S. President Donald Trump was joking when he suggested the leaders of Russia, China, and North Korea were “conspiring” against Washington.

Trump posted the claim on Truth Social during a military parade in Beijing marking the World War II victory over Japan. Russian President Vladimir Putin was in attendance alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. 

In his post, Trump said many Americans had died in China’s “quest for Victory and Glory” and should be honored. He congratulated Xi, before adding: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States.”