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| China parade to commemorate WW2 defeat of Japan | China parade to commemorate WW2 defeat of Japan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| China is set to showcase its military might in a parade commemorating the defeat of Japan in World War Two. | China is set to showcase its military might in a parade commemorating the defeat of Japan in World War Two. |
| Some 12,000 troops and 200 aircraft, as well as tanks and missiles, will go on display in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. | Some 12,000 troops and 200 aircraft, as well as tanks and missiles, will go on display in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. |
| More than 80% of the machinery will be shown in public for the first time, state media said. | More than 80% of the machinery will be shown in public for the first time, state media said. |
| China's growing military capabilities will be keenly watched amid geo-political tensions in the region. | China's growing military capabilities will be keenly watched amid geo-political tensions in the region. |
| President Xi Jinping, who is also commander of the armed forces, will be centre stage at the proceedings along with more than 30 foreign government officials and heads of state. | President Xi Jinping, who is also commander of the armed forces, will be centre stage at the proceedings along with more than 30 foreign government officials and heads of state. |
| The BBC's China editor, Carrie Gracie, in Tiananmen Square, says the skies are perfectly blue rather than smoggy - after factories were closed, barbecues banned and cars stopped from travelling. | |
| There are no balloons or pigeons around the square in case they disrupt the fly-past of military aircraft, she says. | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korea's President Park Geun-hye and, controversially, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be the biggest names in attendance. | |
| Many major leaders, including from the US, UK, Australia and Japan, have shunned the event. | Many major leaders, including from the US, UK, Australia and Japan, have shunned 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," said Alexander Neill from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore. | "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," said Alexander Neill from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore. |
| Celia Hatton, BBC News, Beijing: For sale - submarines, fighter jets, drones | |
| China's victory parade is designed to be a grandiose demonstration of the country's military prowess. But it's also a useful opportunity for the Chinese military to showcase its wares. | China's victory parade is designed to be a grandiose demonstration of the country's military prowess. But it's also a useful opportunity for the Chinese military to showcase its wares. |
| A few months ago, China surpassed Germany to become the world's third largest arms supplier, according to the Stockholm Peace Institute. | A few months ago, China surpassed Germany to become the world's third largest arms supplier, according to the Stockholm Peace Institute. |
| "That shows the intention to showcase the progress of China's arms industry," explains Mathieu Duchâtel, head of the China and Global Security Project with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. | "That shows the intention to showcase the progress of China's arms industry," explains Mathieu Duchâtel, head of the China and Global Security Project with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. |
| "In terms of exports, it will indicate the move of China as a major arms importer to a major exporter." | "In terms of exports, it will indicate the move of China as a major arms importer to a major exporter." |
| Arms sales from China have soared 150% in the past five years. For the first time, all of the armaments shown during the parade will be Chinese-made, with no Russian-made weapons on display. | Arms sales from China have soared 150% in the past five years. For the first time, all of the armaments shown during the parade will be Chinese-made, with no Russian-made weapons on display. |
| Preparing for a parade - Trained monkey and banned pigeons | Preparing for a parade - Trained monkey and banned pigeons |
| What does it signal? - Alexander Neill from IISS-Asia gives his views | What does it signal? - Alexander Neill from IISS-Asia gives his views |
| China's People's Liberation Army is the world's largest military with 2.3 million members, and it also has the second biggest defence budget after the US. | China's People's Liberation Army is the world's largest military with 2.3 million members, and it also has the second biggest defence budget after the US. |
| In the build-up to the event, state media have been publishing commentaries that reinforce Chinese patriotism and views on historical events. | In the build-up to the event, state media have been publishing commentaries that reinforce Chinese patriotism and views on historical events. |
| 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. |