China marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific with a large-scale military parade in Beijing on 3 September, unveiling a range of new missile systems and drone technologies with strong naval relevance.
The date commemorates the formal conclusion of hostilities following Japan’s surrender aboard the American battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. In tribute, China held its original victory parade on 3 September 1945 in Chongqing, then the wartime capital of the Republic of China. This year’s commemoration was officially titled the “80th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.”
During the parade, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) showcased a wide array of recently revealed or upgraded capabilities spanning naval, air and ground domains. Among the highlights were new missile systems designed for naval warfare, alongside a significant emphasis on unmanned aerial systems.
The display was complemented by an extensive aerial segment, featuring PLA Army helicopters as well as fixed-wing aircraft from both the PLA Air Force and PLA Navy. Naval News reports that the missile formations and air overflights underscored the continuing modernisation of China’s carrier strike groups, surface combatants and submarines.
The parade thus not only commemorated a historic milestone but also projected China’s evolving military posture, particularly its growing emphasis on naval power and advanced technologies.
