China hosted two dozen world leaders for a huge military parade in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
It was only the second time Beijing has held a Victory Day parade, the first taking place a decade ago.
The parade – which started at 9am and lasted nearly 90 minutes – was viewed by many as a showcase of China’s growing military strength. But it was also an attempt by Beijing to cement its global leadership status and to show its rising diplomatic clout.
In an opening address, President Xi Jinping said the Chinese people “firmly stand on the right side of history and the progress of human civilisation”. He touted his “strong and self-reliant” country as a “great nation that fears no violence”, and said the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable”.
Below are some key takeaways from Wednesday’s parade.
03:26
Why are China’s Tiananmen Square military parades so important?
Why are China’s Tiananmen Square military parades so important?
