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| China military parade to commemorate second world war victory – live | China military parade to commemorate second world war victory – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.57am BST02:57 | |
| The leaders and dignitaries, headed by Xi and Putin, are taking their seats now. | |
| There is an awful lot of flag-waving going on around them. Many spectators are wearing yellow hats – the caps, emblazoned with a “70”, have been doled out as part of the commemorations to those in the square. | |
| #VDay President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan take photo with heads of foreign delegations and their spouses. pic.twitter.com/U9r2IRDwBm | |
| 2.54am BST02:54 | |
| All soldiers taking part in the parade have received order to reduce the frequency with which they blink, according to a report in the Beijing Times.China’s “King of Staring” is reportedly a navy officer who is able to stare without blinking for an incredible 57 minutes and 24 seconds. | |
| (Let’s not skim over that “reportedly”.) | |
| 2.51am BST02:51 | |
| North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is not in attendance, but he has sent representative Choe Ryong-hae, reports Fergus Ryan in Beijing. | |
| Choe is said to be a close aide to the North Korean leader, who snubbed China’s invitation. North Korea has been described as being “as close as lips and teeth” with China in the past, but in recent years the relationship has become somewhat strained. | |
| South Korean president Park Geun-hye is in attendance today. | |
| LIVE #VDay Parade: President #XiJinping greets Choe Ryong Hae, representative from DPRK pic.twitter.com/BRKrnZIozM | |
| 2.45am BST02:45 | |
| The military band and choir are now opening the commemorations in the square. Currently they’re performing Defend The Yellow River, a 1939 patriotic song. | |
| We’re expecting a speech from president Xi Jinping shortly afterwards. | |
| 2.43am BST02:43 | |
| As much a show of military might as a commemoration of the 1945 victory, China is expected to roll out a huge array of hardware today. We spoke to military experts about what we might see, and what it might mean: | |
| James Hardy, Asia-Pacific editor of IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly | |
| Hardy said the parade was about using military power to send a message about “China’s strength and invulnerability” both at home and abroad. | |
| “In that sense it is no different to previous parades – the most recent similar one was in 2009 – but of course the context is different. The US and China are engaged in fairly overt strategic competition in the As-Pac region at the moment, and Chinese power projection via this or other military equipment is not playing too well with its neighbours.” | |
| Hardy expects to see new Chinese missile systems paraded through Tiananmen. “Our interest was piqued in rehearsals by the various missile systems that are being rolled out,” he said. | |
| “China has invested heavily in missile systems for some years now. It has a range of ballistic and cruise missiles that would seriously complicate any US response to a Taiwan invasion scenario or a crisis around the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. | |
| “That much has been known for quite a while. What this parade does is put it all in one place and confirm Chinese internet-sourced imagery that has been the basis for most open source analysis in recent years.” | |
| If the parade features the same hardware as the recent rehearsal, Hardy thinks we will see the first public showings of weapons including the Dong Feng (DF, East Wind) DF-15B short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), DF-16 medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), DF-21C MRBM, DF-26 intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM), the warhead section of the DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the DF-31A ICBM, and the DF-10 land attack cruise missile (LACM). | |
| “The big things that are missing from this parade – what with it being in Beijing – are China’s major advances in naval equipment. That’s where China is really changing the balance of power in Asia. In that context, the anti-ship missiles on display are of most interest, but another platform to look out for is the J-15 carrier-based fighter. That is based on Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, and a group of them will be doing a fly-by.” | |
| China’s “relative” openness – compared to North Korea – and the use of satellite imagery analysis and online sources means there are unlikely to be big surprises for defence analysts. | |
| Ashley Townshend, research fellow at University of Sydney Alliance 21 Program | |
| Townshend says he will be looking out for China’s “carrier killer”. That is the nickname of the DF-21D missile system, which may get its first public outing. | |
| “The DF-21D has great symbolic significance as the missile that, perhaps more than any other single weapons system, will potentially enable Beijing to prevent the United States navy from operating close to Chinese shores at acceptable levels of cost and risk,” says Townshend. | |
| “China has created and tested the DF-21D as an anti-ship ballistic missile which many believe might be capable to successfully striking an American aircraft carrier from a very great distance. As a signal to the Chinese people of how far China’s military modernisation has progressed, the DF-21D has enormous symbolic value. Its inclusion in the parade could also be read as a signal to the US and its regional allies and partners of China’s formidable capacity to target, and therefore hopefully, deter other countries’ warships in a crisis. | |
| “Of course, we do not know exactly how this missile will operate in a crisis situation. While American defence officials believe it has reached something close to an initial operating level, it is far from certain that China’s ‘carrier killer’ will be able to circumvent the multiple defence systems ingrained in a carrier battle-group. Nevertheless, it has certainly got American defence planners worried enough to seek new and high-tech ways to defend US warships against this potentially game-changing threat.” | |
| Townshend is also not expecting any big military secrets to slip out though. “The inclusion of sophisticated new military hardware – in particular ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft – should not be viewed as an exercise in PLA transparency. All of what will be on display is likely to already be known to foreign intelligence agencies. China will not be revealing any of its secrets.” | |
| 2.33am BST02:33 | |
| My colleague Tom Phillips is awaiting the start of the commemorations: | |
| I’m sat in one of two press areas on the north side of Tiananmen Square just next to the portrait of Mao and just a few metres off the main parade concourse. It’s already 24 degrees, blazing sunshine and the journalists and army veterans sat on this side of the square are melting. | |
| Umbrellas are banned (possibly because of concerns someone might try and stage a mini-protest in tribute to Hong Kong’s Umbrella Revolution?) but we have been given raincoats. We’ve been given one bottle of water each and a yellow cap commemorating the end of the war. | |
| The main item in the swag bag is a bright red Chinese flag which foreign correspondents may or may not wave as the troops go by. | |
| And here are the rules for spectators in the square (not all that unreasonable, to be honest): | |
| Beijing military parade rules: keep your voice down! don't throw articles! pic.twitter.com/bCVLJAiwDx | |
| 2.28am BST02:28 | |
| Russian president – and the last dignitary in this line-up – Vladimir Putin strides in. Russian troops will take part in the parade shortly. | |
| Live: President #XiJinping & first lady Peng Liyuan greet #Putin ahead of China's #VDay parade @KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/5lifr4SU7H | |
| Putin is in the house - got little cheer/jeer from Tiananmen crowds. | |
| That marks the end of the foreign dignitaries meet-and-greet. Attention will now shift to Tiananmen Square. | |
| Updated at 2.49am BST | |
| 2.25am BST02:25 | |
| Pakistan president Mamnoon Hussain has arrived; Pakistani forces will be taking part in the parade later. | |
| Arguably the most controversial guest, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, is also here. Bashir is the only serving head of state to have been indicted by the international criminal court for mass atrocities. Today he will rub shoulders with numerous world leaders and the head of the United Nations. | |
| Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has just been introduced. He recently oversaw a huge crackdown on press freedom and dissent in Egypt. | |
| 2.18am BST02:18 | 2.18am BST02:18 |
| The overseas dignitaries are now taking part in a mini-parade of their own as they each step up to meet president Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan. | The overseas dignitaries are now taking part in a mini-parade of their own as they each step up to meet president Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan. |
| UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and his wife Yoo Soon-taek have arrived. | UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and his wife Yoo Soon-taek have arrived. |
| Ban has been forced to defend his attendance at the parade, saying earlier this week: | Ban has been forced to defend his attendance at the parade, saying earlier this week: |
| China’s contribution and sacrifice during the second world war is very much recognised, [and China] is appreciated for all such sufferings, and sympathised [with] by the world’s people. | China’s contribution and sacrifice during the second world war is very much recognised, [and China] is appreciated for all such sufferings, and sympathised [with] by the world’s people. |
| It is important to look to the past, what kinds of lessons we have been learning, and how we can move ahead to a brighter future based on the lessons learned. That is the main purpose. | It is important to look to the past, what kinds of lessons we have been learning, and how we can move ahead to a brighter future based on the lessons learned. That is the main purpose. |
| Live: @UN chief Ban Ki-moon and his wife arrive for China's #VDay parade http://t.co/qGCyhnnwpi pic.twitter.com/wehNrwYPiS | Live: @UN chief Ban Ki-moon and his wife arrive for China's #VDay parade http://t.co/qGCyhnnwpi pic.twitter.com/wehNrwYPiS |
| Kenneth Clarke, a British MP and former chancellor of the exchequer who is here as the “special envoy” of the prime minister, David Cameron, is also here. These images are all being beamed into Tiananmen Square, where my colleague Tom Phillips reports very little recognition for the UK visitor. | Kenneth Clarke, a British MP and former chancellor of the exchequer who is here as the “special envoy” of the prime minister, David Cameron, is also here. These images are all being beamed into Tiananmen Square, where my colleague Tom Phillips reports very little recognition for the UK visitor. |
| Updated at 2.18am BST | Updated at 2.18am BST |
| 2.10am BST02:10 | 2.10am BST02:10 |
| My colleague Fergus Ryan reports from Beijing: | My colleague Fergus Ryan reports from Beijing: |
| Today’s massive parade is a made-for-TV event and nothing has been left to chance. Many businesses and roads have been shut down for the event. For the roads that are still open, around half of the cities’ vehicles are allowed on them. | Today’s massive parade is a made-for-TV event and nothing has been left to chance. Many businesses and roads have been shut down for the event. For the roads that are still open, around half of the cities’ vehicles are allowed on them. |
| And the military has even deployed falcons and monkeys to prevent birds from getting in the way of the jets flying overhead. | And the military has even deployed falcons and monkeys to prevent birds from getting in the way of the jets flying overhead. |
| One of the principal aims of this, the largest military parade in modern Chinese history, is to redress the imbalance China sees in second world war narratives. China’s role in defeating Japan, in particular, has been underplayed, the argument goes. | One of the principal aims of this, the largest military parade in modern Chinese history, is to redress the imbalance China sees in second world war narratives. China’s role in defeating Japan, in particular, has been underplayed, the argument goes. |
| At a medal ceremony for war veterans on Wednesday, president Xi Jinping used unusually strong language to describe the Japanese invaders, calling them “fiendish”. | At a medal ceremony for war veterans on Wednesday, president Xi Jinping used unusually strong language to describe the Japanese invaders, calling them “fiendish”. |
| “The Japanese militarist invaders were extremely bloody and cruel, who treated the Chinese people with unprecedented brutality, and tried to use massacres and death to get the Chinese people to yield,” Xi said, according to Xinhua news agency. | “The Japanese militarist invaders were extremely bloody and cruel, who treated the Chinese people with unprecedented brutality, and tried to use massacres and death to get the Chinese people to yield,” Xi said, according to Xinhua news agency. |
| “In the face of the butchers’ knives of the invaders, the Chinese people used their flesh and blood to build a new Great Wall,” he added. | “In the face of the butchers’ knives of the invaders, the Chinese people used their flesh and blood to build a new Great Wall,” he added. |
| The anti-Japanese sentiment is precisely why many major leaders, including from from the UK, US, Australia and Japan, have shunned the event. Many western countries are reluctant to buy into Asia’s “history wars”. | The anti-Japanese sentiment is precisely why many major leaders, including from from the UK, US, Australia and Japan, have shunned the event. Many western countries are reluctant to buy into Asia’s “history wars”. |
| Despite the rhetoric, China maintains that the parade is not aimed at today’s Japan, but to remember the past and hope for peace. | Despite the rhetoric, China maintains that the parade is not aimed at today’s Japan, but to remember the past and hope for peace. |
| In Wednesday’s China Military Online, People’s Liberation army General Liu Yazhou said of Japan: “A nation accustomed to concealing history and rejecting the truth … has no hope.” | In Wednesday’s China Military Online, People’s Liberation army General Liu Yazhou said of Japan: “A nation accustomed to concealing history and rejecting the truth … has no hope.” |
| But as Beijing-based lawyer William Farris points out in his blog Fei Chang Dao, forum topics online on Baidu for “the Cultural Revolution,” (文革) “The Great Leap Forward,” (大跃进) and “Tiananmen” (天安门) are banned. | But as Beijing-based lawyer William Farris points out in his blog Fei Chang Dao, forum topics online on Baidu for “the Cultural Revolution,” (文革) “The Great Leap Forward,” (大跃进) and “Tiananmen” (天安门) are banned. |
| Farris quotes a Global Times editorial entitled “Japan Must Face up to Verdict of History” by Sha Zukang, former UN under-secretary-general for Economic and Social Affairs: “A great country and nation has the courage to face up to its history. To forget history is to betray, and to deny a crime is to repeat it. Only by taking history as a mirror can Japan look into the future. Otherwise, its future will be like a tree without roots, which cannot last long.” | Farris quotes a Global Times editorial entitled “Japan Must Face up to Verdict of History” by Sha Zukang, former UN under-secretary-general for Economic and Social Affairs: “A great country and nation has the courage to face up to its history. To forget history is to betray, and to deny a crime is to repeat it. Only by taking history as a mirror can Japan look into the future. Otherwise, its future will be like a tree without roots, which cannot last long.” |
| 2.01am BST02:01 | 2.01am BST02:01 |
| Those who believe today’s parade has more to do with China wanting to display its current strength and rather less to do with the events of 1945 might find this interesting: more than 500 pieces of new military equipment are due to be showcased this morning. | Those who believe today’s parade has more to do with China wanting to display its current strength and rather less to do with the events of 1945 might find this interesting: more than 500 pieces of new military equipment are due to be showcased this morning. |
| China to display over 500 pieces of latest equipment in #VDay parade, 84% shown for 1st time pic.twitter.com/ODtbtgeqIZ | China to display over 500 pieces of latest equipment in #VDay parade, 84% shown for 1st time pic.twitter.com/ODtbtgeqIZ |
| 1.56am BST01:56 | 1.56am BST01:56 |
| My colleague Luna Lin reports from Beijing: | My colleague Luna Lin reports from Beijing: |
| Foreign dignitaries are arriving at the Forbidden City and they will soon meet president Xi Jinping and his wife. | Foreign dignitaries are arriving at the Forbidden City and they will soon meet president Xi Jinping and his wife. |
| You can read more about the foreign leaders and dignitaries who are expected to show up – including some perhaps unexpected names – here: | You can read more about the foreign leaders and dignitaries who are expected to show up – including some perhaps unexpected names – here: |
| Related: Tony Blair to attend China's second world war Victory Day events – report | Related: Tony Blair to attend China's second world war Victory Day events – report |
| 1.48am BST01:48 | 1.48am BST01:48 |
| The Guardian’s Tom Phillips is stationed in Tiananmen Square, along with a horde of journalists. | The Guardian’s Tom Phillips is stationed in Tiananmen Square, along with a horde of journalists. |
| But most Beijing residents will not be given the opportunity to see the parade as it passes through their city. | But most Beijing residents will not be given the opportunity to see the parade as it passes through their city. |
| As Associated Press reports: | As Associated Press reports: |
| Residents who live along the parade route have received notices ordering them to stay off balconies, keep windows shut, invite no guests and – at some buildings – snap no pictures. | Residents who live along the parade route have received notices ordering them to stay off balconies, keep windows shut, invite no guests and – at some buildings – snap no pictures. |
| “I am eager to watch the parade, but I understand it’s impossible for everyone to have the chance to see it,” said a Beijing lawyer who identified himself only by his surname, Yao. “I think watching the live broadcast will be a good alternative.” | “I am eager to watch the parade, but I understand it’s impossible for everyone to have the chance to see it,” said a Beijing lawyer who identified himself only by his surname, Yao. “I think watching the live broadcast will be a good alternative.” |
| The neighborhoods around Tiananmen Square will be under curfew, and Beijing has mobilised 850,000 neighbourhood watchers to report anything even slightly out of the ordinary. | The neighborhoods around Tiananmen Square will be under curfew, and Beijing has mobilised 850,000 neighbourhood watchers to report anything even slightly out of the ordinary. |
| City roads will be closed, public bus service suspended and many subway stops sealed, while cordon tape will keep members of the public away from the parade. Authorities also are shutting down office buildings, shops, restaurants and even hospitals along the route for at least 24 hours. Some buildings are staying shut for three days. | City roads will be closed, public bus service suspended and many subway stops sealed, while cordon tape will keep members of the public away from the parade. Authorities also are shutting down office buildings, shops, restaurants and even hospitals along the route for at least 24 hours. Some buildings are staying shut for three days. |
| The first ever live blog from Tiananmen Square? http://t.co/vOxsPJSxaP pic.twitter.com/fGzoju2FnD | The first ever live blog from Tiananmen Square? http://t.co/vOxsPJSxaP pic.twitter.com/fGzoju2FnD |
| 1.41am BST01:41 | 1.41am BST01:41 |
| China has been working very hard to quash negative views about today’s commemorations but there are, of course, many who say the parade serves as propaganda for the regime. | China has been working very hard to quash negative views about today’s commemorations but there are, of course, many who say the parade serves as propaganda for the regime. |
| Luna Lin, in the Guardian’s Beijing bureau, has been talking to Zhang Lifan, a Chinese historian known for his outspoken criticism of the government. His reading of the parade is typically blunt. | Luna Lin, in the Guardian’s Beijing bureau, has been talking to Zhang Lifan, a Chinese historian known for his outspoken criticism of the government. His reading of the parade is typically blunt. |
| “The parade is to serve political needs,” Zhang says. “Xi Jinping needs to consolidate his power and to take control of the army after ousting senior military figures” in his anti-corruption drive. | “The parade is to serve political needs,” Zhang says. “Xi Jinping needs to consolidate his power and to take control of the army after ousting senior military figures” in his anti-corruption drive. |
| Zhang believes China’s president “wants to establish the image of being the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The parade is a good way of demonstrating his power and further strengthening his control of the army.”“He also wants to fan nationalistic sentiment among the public … which is a common practice among authoritarian states.” | Zhang believes China’s president “wants to establish the image of being the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The parade is a good way of demonstrating his power and further strengthening his control of the army.”“He also wants to fan nationalistic sentiment among the public … which is a common practice among authoritarian states.” |
| The parade is partly designed to flex “China’s muscles” on the international stage, Zhang adds. “But the most important of the parade is to consolidate Xi’s political status and leadership.” | The parade is partly designed to flex “China’s muscles” on the international stage, Zhang adds. “But the most important of the parade is to consolidate Xi’s political status and leadership.” |
| 1.36am BST01:36 | 1.36am BST01:36 |
| Parade schedule | Parade schedule |
| Last-minute rehearsals have been going on since dawn in Tiananmen Square, overseen by journalists who were instructed to be in position several hours before the commemorations begin. | Last-minute rehearsals have been going on since dawn in Tiananmen Square, overseen by journalists who were instructed to be in position several hours before the commemorations begin. |
| Xi is likely to talk about world peace, China’s sacrifices during the second world war and what he calls ‘the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation’. His message will be simple: I’m in charge. | Xi is likely to talk about world peace, China’s sacrifices during the second world war and what he calls ‘the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation’. His message will be simple: I’m in charge. |
| 1.16am BST01:16 | 1.16am BST01:16 |
| Summary | Summary |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| China will today host a huge military parade in central Beijing to mark 70 years since victory over Japan in the second world war. | China will today host a huge military parade in central Beijing to mark 70 years since victory over Japan in the second world war. |
| Troops and missiles will be paraded through Tiananmen Square. Some 12,000 soldiers will take part – most Chinese, but accompanied by contingents from Russia and other nations. | Troops and missiles will be paraded through Tiananmen Square. Some 12,000 soldiers will take part – most Chinese, but accompanied by contingents from Russia and other nations. |
| In attendance will be Chinese president Xi Jinping, Russian president Vladimir Putin and leaders of several other nations, including South Korean president Park Geun-hye, Pakistan’s president Mamnoon Hussain and Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes by the international criminal court. | In attendance will be Chinese president Xi Jinping, Russian president Vladimir Putin and leaders of several other nations, including South Korean president Park Geun-hye, Pakistan’s president Mamnoon Hussain and Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes by the international criminal court. |
| Former British prime minister Tony Blair is also expected to show up, along with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon. | Former British prime minister Tony Blair is also expected to show up, along with UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon. |
| Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe will not attend. | Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe will not attend. |
| I’ll be live blogging the parade, taking in the preparations, the precautions and the protests. | I’ll be live blogging the parade, taking in the preparations, the precautions and the protests. |
| My colleague Tom Phillips is in Tiananmen Square and you can follow his updates via this live blog and on Twitter @tomphillipsin. | My colleague Tom Phillips is in Tiananmen Square and you can follow his updates via this live blog and on Twitter @tomphillipsin. |
| I’ll also post key updates on Twitter @Claire_Phipps. | I’ll also post key updates on Twitter @Claire_Phipps. |
| Do chat with me there or post your comments below. | Do chat with me there or post your comments below. |
| Updated at 2.14am BST | Updated at 2.14am BST |