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| China military parade commemorates WW2 victory | China military parade commemorates WW2 victory |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| China is holding a lavish parade in Beijing to mark the defeat of Japan in World War Two, showcasing its military might on an unprecedented scale. | China is holding 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. |
| Some 12,000 troops and 200 aircraft, as well as tanks and missiles, are on display in Tiananmen Square. | Some 12,000 troops and 200 aircraft, as well as tanks and missiles, are on display in Tiananmen Square. |
| More than 80% of the machinery on display is being shown in public for the first time, state media has said. | More than 80% of the machinery on display is being shown in public for the first time, state media has said. |
| Mr Xi, who is also commander of the armed forces, is centre stage at the proceedings along with more than 30 foreign government officials and heads of state. | Mr Xi, who is also commander of the armed forces, is centre stage at the proceedings along with more than 30 foreign government officials and heads of state. |
| '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 is watching the parade, says the army cuts will not mean a weaker China. | BBC China Editor Carrie Gracie, who is watching the parade, says the army cuts will not mean a weaker China. |
| China 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. | China 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, said the move shows China's "determination to have a modern fighting force". | Alexander Neill from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore, said the move shows China's "determination to have a modern fighting force". |
| 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. | 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. |
| Leaders shun event | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korea's President Park Geun-hye and, controversially, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, are among the biggest names in attendance. | Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korea's President Park Geun-hye and, controversially, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, are among the biggest names in attendance. |
| But many major leaders, including from the US, UK, Australia and Japan, have shunned the event. | But 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," 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Beijing's normally smoggy skies are unusually blue, after factories were closed, barbecues banned and cars stopped from travelling. | Beijing's normally smoggy skies are unusually blue, 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, our correspondent says. | |
| 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. |