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China military parade commemorates WW2 victory over Japan | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
China has held a lavish parade in Beijing to mark the defeat of Japan in World War Two, showcasing its military might on an unprecedented scale. | China has held a lavish parade in Beijing to mark the defeat of Japan in World War Two, showcasing its military might on an unprecedented scale. |
President Xi Jinping in his opening speech paid tribute to "the Chinese people who unwaveringly fought hard and defeated aggression" from Japan. | President Xi Jinping in his opening speech paid tribute to "the Chinese people who unwaveringly fought hard and defeated aggression" from Japan. |
He also said the People's Liberation Army would be reduced by 300,000 personnel, but gave no timeframe. | He also said the People's Liberation Army would be reduced by 300,000 personnel, but gave no timeframe. |
China's growing military power is being keenly watched amid regional tensions. | China's growing military power is being keenly watched amid regional tensions. |
China has several territorial disputes with neighbours in the South China Sea, as well as with Japan in the East China Sea. | China has several territorial disputes with neighbours in the South China Sea, as well as with Japan in the East China Sea. |
Ahead of the parade, the US said five Chinese ships had been spotted in the Bering Sea off Alaska for the first time. | Ahead of the parade, the US said five Chinese ships had been spotted in the Bering Sea off Alaska for the first time. |
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the world's largest military, with 2.3 million members. China also has the second biggest defence budget after the US. | |
More than 30 foreign government officials and heads of state including Russia's President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon attended the event. | More than 30 foreign government officials and heads of state including Russia's President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon attended the event. |
But many Western leaders and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have stayed away. | But many Western leaders and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have stayed away. |
Some 12,000 troops and 200 aircraft, as well as tanks and missiles, were on display in Tiananmen Square, including the anti-ship "carrier killer" missile Dongfeng-21D. | Some 12,000 troops and 200 aircraft, as well as tanks and missiles, were on display in Tiananmen Square, including the anti-ship "carrier killer" missile Dongfeng-21D. |
Most of the war machinery on display was being shown to the general public for the first time, according to state media. | |
Mr Xi, also the commander of the armed forces, was centre stage at the parade's proceedings. | Mr Xi, also the commander of the armed forces, was centre stage at the parade's proceedings. |
John Sudworth, BBC News, Beijing: "We are strong now" | |
Despite the repeated assurances from China that the message of today was one of peace, the crowd seemed to see a different symbolism in the V-shaped lines of jets and bombers. | |
"We have the ability to announce to the world that we are a big country, we are a great country," one onlooker told me. "It is the proper time to show to the world that we are strong now," a young woman agreed. | |
China believes that its suffering and sacrifice during World War Two have been largely forgotten. | |
But 70 years on there are questions over whether the Communist Party is basking in reflected glory - after all it was the Nationalists who did most of the fighting and dying - and whether a contribution to world peace is really best marked by such an extraordinary display of military might. | |
'China will not seek expansion' | 'China will not seek expansion' |
Mr Xi made the troop reduction announcement in a speech where he reassured the global community that "China will remain committed to peaceful development". | Mr Xi made the troop reduction announcement in a speech where he reassured the global community that "China will remain committed to peaceful development". |
"No matter how strong it becomes, China will never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any nation," he said. | "No matter how strong it becomes, China will never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any nation," he said. |
BBC China Editor Carrie Gracie, who was at the parade, says the army cuts will not mean a weaker China. | BBC China Editor Carrie Gracie, who was at the parade, says the army cuts will not mean a weaker China. |
It is also upgrading its naval and air forces, she says, so does not need as many boots on the ground to project its power around the world. | |
Alexander Neill from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore, says the move shows China's "determination to have a modern fighting force". | Alexander Neill from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore, says the move shows China's "determination to have a modern fighting force". |
In the build-up to the event, state media have published commentaries reinforcing Chinese patriotism and views on historical events. | In the build-up to the event, state media have published commentaries reinforcing Chinese patriotism and views on historical events. |
Entertainment shows were also suspended on television to make way for the coverage. | Entertainment shows were also suspended on television to make way for the coverage. |
Beijing's normally smoggy skies were unusually blue, after factories were closed, barbecues banned and cars stopped from travelling to reduce pollution. | Beijing's normally smoggy skies were unusually blue, after factories were closed, barbecues banned and cars stopped from travelling to reduce pollution. |
But concerns about China's growing military assertiveness and the tone of the parade meant many Western and Asian leaders stayed away from the event. | |
"During a period of strained relations between China and Japan, as well as increasing military tension in the Asia-Pacific region, some leaders are reluctant to be associated with what they may view as a nationalistic, anti-Japanese mass rally," says Mr Neill. | "During a period of strained relations between China and Japan, as well as increasing military tension in the Asia-Pacific region, some leaders are reluctant to be associated with what they may view as a nationalistic, anti-Japanese mass rally," says Mr Neill. |
Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China in 1937 and, according to Beijing, eight years of fighting claimed 14 million Chinese lives. | Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China in 1937 and, according to Beijing, eight years of fighting claimed 14 million Chinese lives. |
China also claims that it is the "forgotten ally" and that its role in defeating Japan has been underplayed in the post-war narrative. | China also claims that it is the "forgotten ally" and that its role in defeating Japan has been underplayed in the post-war narrative. |
Nationalist forces led the fight against Japan in China. They were defeated by Mao Zedong's Communists who proclaimed a people's republic in 1949. | Nationalist forces led the fight against Japan in China. They were defeated by Mao Zedong's Communists who proclaimed a people's republic in 1949. |