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Lavish China parade to commemorate WW2 victory | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
China is set to showcase its military might in a lavish parade, unprecedented in its scale, to mark 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. |
In April, the Chinese signed a deal to supply eight new submarines to Pakistan - the most expensive arms deal in Chinese history. There is also a possible deal in the works to sell Chinese submarines to Thailand. | |
The parade is not quite the same as an arms fair, but representatives from China's closest military allies will be on hand as China's latest weaponry streams past them. | |
Just what is China trying to prove? - An image of China that shuns creativity in favour of uniformity and obedience | |
Preparing for a parade - Trained monkeys and banned pigeons were part of the prep | |
The military wares China wants to boast about - 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. | |
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. |