On September 3, 2025, the heart of Beijing throbbed with the thunder of marching boots, the roar of fighter jets, and the unmistakable presence of cutting-edge military technology. China’s largest military parade in history marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a moment loaded with symbolism and political intent. The event, attended by over 20 heads of state—including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un—was more than a commemoration; it was a meticulously choreographed show of strength, technological prowess, and national pride.
According to the Associated Press, the parade featured a staggering display: over 10,000 soldiers, more than 100 planes, hundreds of tanks, and a host of advanced missile systems. The spectacle unfolded along Beijing’s Avenue of Eternal Peace, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ensuring that every piece of weaponry on display was “100 percent Made in China.” This wasn’t just about military might; it was a statement that China had moved well past the days of relying on foreign technology. As Marc Lanteigne, a China specialist at the Arctic University of Norway, told France 24, “China really wants to showcase its technological prowess, to be seen as an innovator. But we're well past that stage now.”
The parade was the culmination of days of diplomatic activity, beginning with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on September 1. This gathering brought together leaders from across Asia and beyond, providing President Xi Jinping with a platform to position China as the linchpin of an “alternative world order.” The presence of Putin and Kim Jong Un alongside Xi sent a clear message: China is not just an economic powerhouse, but a credible military and diplomatic alternative to the Western-led international system.
But why such a grand display, and why now? The answer lies in both history and politics. The CCP has, in recent years, shifted its narrative about World War II. While the party did not control the national government during the war—most of the fighting against Japan was done by the Nationalist government it later overthrew—the CCP now frames itself as the rightful leader of China’s wartime resistance and subsequent resurgence. As Emily Matson, a historian of modern China, explained to AP, “It’s a really important part of the Communist Party’s legitimizing narrative as the leader of the Chinese people.”
This narrative is, in part, a response to China’s traumatic past. The Japanese invasion before and during World War II devastated the country, leaving millions dead and a nation humiliated. “We paid a very painful price,” said Yan Hongjia, a middle school teacher visiting the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. Yan drew a poignant parallel to current global conflicts, asking, “Let’s think about it, if the children in Gaza during the war were our children, would we be willing to relive this history, this humiliation and this pain?”
The CCP’s evolving narrative also serves contemporary ambitions. By highlighting China’s suffering and eventual triumph, the party seeks to foster national pride and build support for President Xi Jinping. Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has made it a priority to assert China’s place on the world stage. The parade, the exhibitions, and the newly spruced-up museums all serve to remind citizens—and the world—of China’s journey from victimhood to rejuvenation. Wang Junwei, chair of the Academic and Editorial Council at the Institute of Party History and Literature, put it succinctly: “The victory in the anti-Japanese war transformed the Chinese nation from deep crisis toward great rejuvenation.”
Yet the parade was not only about the past. It was a bold assertion of present and future ambitions. The inclusion of military robots—such as the much-publicized “robot wolves”—and other advanced technology signaled China’s intent to be seen as a leader in future warfare. Carlotta Rinaudo, a China specialist at the International Team for the Study of Security Verona, told France 24, “There will definitely be elements of a science fiction show. China wants to show the world that with future wars more and more relying on technology, the People’s Liberation Army is a technological leader.”
This technological showcase dovetails with China’s broader geopolitical goals. The parade, as noted by France 24, was designed to present China as a credible military alternative to the U.S.-dominated international order. The timing was no accident. With U.S.-China tensions simmering—exacerbated by aggressive tariffs from President Donald Trump—China is eager to demonstrate that it can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with, or even surpass, the United States and its allies.
The parade also played a role in reinforcing China’s territorial claims, particularly regarding Taiwan. By emphasizing its role as one of the main Allied powers that defeated Japan, the CCP seeks to legitimize its claim over Taiwan. As outlined by the Brookings Institute and referenced by France 24, the historical narrative surrounding the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam conference is being leveraged to argue that Taiwan rightfully belongs to China. Despite never having controlled the island, the CCP’s rewriting of wartime history is aimed at strengthening its position in this long-standing dispute.
This reworking of history is not without controversy. Frans-Paul van der Putten of the Netherlands’ Clingendael research institute noted that Western accounts have often downplayed China’s contribution to the defeat of Imperial Japan. “The fact that Western media report about the parade may help somewhat to inform Western audiences about that aspect of the war,” he said. However, there is also an ongoing debate within China about the respective roles of the CCP and the Nationalists in the victory over Japan. As Lanteigne observed, “We are seeing a rewriting of that to play up the role of the Communist Party and downplay that of the Nationalists.”
Amidst all the pageantry and historical revisionism, the parade served a crucial domestic function: ensuring the loyalty of the military to the party. Following a recent purge of generals, as reported by France 24, Xi Jinping’s message was clear— the People’s Liberation Army is, above all, the military arm of the Communist Party.
As the last tanks rolled past and the sky above Beijing cleared of jet trails, the message to both domestic and international audiences was unmistakable. China remembers its past, but it is looking firmly to the future—one in which it intends to play a leading role on the world stage, both militarily and politically. The echoes of history, amplified by the spectacle of modern power, continue to shape the ambitions of a nation that refuses to be overlooked.