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| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| China military parade commemorates second world war victory – as it happened | China military parade commemorates second world war victory – as it happened |
| (12 days later) | |
| 6.25am BST | 6.25am BST |
| 06:25 | 06:25 |
| Closing summary | Closing summary |
| My colleague Tom Phillips has left Tiananmen Square and sends this report: | My colleague Tom Phillips has left Tiananmen Square and sends this report: |
| Chinese president Xi Jinping made an unexpected pledge on Thursday to cut his army by 300,000 troops, even as his armed forces put on a massive show of force during a 70th anniversary military parade commemorating the end of the second world war. | Chinese president Xi Jinping made an unexpected pledge on Thursday to cut his army by 300,000 troops, even as his armed forces put on a massive show of force during a 70th anniversary military parade commemorating the end of the second world war. |
| In the surprise announcement in front of a gathering of some of the world’s leaders in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Xi said China was committed to peaceful development. | In the surprise announcement in front of a gathering of some of the world’s leaders in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Xi said China was committed to peaceful development. |
| And he pledged his country would “never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any other nation”. | And he pledged his country would “never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any other nation”. |
| However his words will not reassure some of China’s neighbours who will have looked on the display of military with some concern. | However his words will not reassure some of China’s neighbours who will have looked on the display of military with some concern. |
| Xi did not indicate when the troop cut – a 13% cut in the nation’s 2.3 million-strong armed forces – would happen, but stressed the country would always “walk down the path of peaceful development”. | Xi did not indicate when the troop cut – a 13% cut in the nation’s 2.3 million-strong armed forces – would happen, but stressed the country would always “walk down the path of peaceful development”. |
| Tanks, missile launchers and more than 12,000 troops paraded through the square as China marked the occasion with a spectacular show of military strength designed to strengthen Xi’s grip on power. | Tanks, missile launchers and more than 12,000 troops paraded through the square as China marked the occasion with a spectacular show of military strength designed to strengthen Xi’s grip on power. |
| Xi kicked off proceedings at around 10am, addressing thousands of hand-picked guests who had assembled in front of the Forbidden City under a blazing sun. | Xi kicked off proceedings at around 10am, addressing thousands of hand-picked guests who had assembled in front of the Forbidden City under a blazing sun. |
| “This great triumph … put an end to China’s national humiliation [and] re-established China as a major country in the world,” Xi said, flanked by Russian president Vladimir Putin and Communist party veterans including Jiang Zemin, the former president. | “This great triumph … put an end to China’s national humiliation [and] re-established China as a major country in the world,” Xi said, flanked by Russian president Vladimir Putin and Communist party veterans including Jiang Zemin, the former president. |
| Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the international criminal court for mass atrocities, and former UK prime minister Tony Blair were also at the parade, although many nations – including Japan and the US – declined to attend, and some, including the UK and Australia, sent only low-level representatives. | Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the international criminal court for mass atrocities, and former UK prime minister Tony Blair were also at the parade, although many nations – including Japan and the US – declined to attend, and some, including the UK and Australia, sent only low-level representatives. |
| By 11am a massive display of Chinese military might was rattling through the notorious Beijing square where troops launched their 1989 crackdown on student demonstrators. | By 11am a massive display of Chinese military might was rattling through the notorious Beijing square where troops launched their 1989 crackdown on student demonstrators. |
| Spectators waved red flags in the air as tanks, drones and ballistic missiles rolled past beneath a perfect blue sky – the result of Beijing’s decision to close more than 12,000 factories and power plants ahead of the event. | Spectators waved red flags in the air as tanks, drones and ballistic missiles rolled past beneath a perfect blue sky – the result of Beijing’s decision to close more than 12,000 factories and power plants ahead of the event. |
| You can read the full article here: | You can read the full article here: |
| Related: Xi Jinping pledges 300,000 cut in army even as China shows military might | Related: Xi Jinping pledges 300,000 cut in army even as China shows military might |
| I’m wrapping up our live coverage now. Thanks for reading and for all the comments. | I’m wrapping up our live coverage now. Thanks for reading and for all the comments. |
| 5.57am BST | 5.57am BST |
| 05:57 | 05:57 |
| Away from the parade, the Pentagon has confirmed the presence of five Chinese naval vessels in the Bering Sea between Russia and Alaska, which Barack Obama is currently visiting. | Away from the parade, the Pentagon has confirmed the presence of five Chinese naval vessels in the Bering Sea between Russia and Alaska, which Barack Obama is currently visiting. |
| It is believed to be the first time Chinese military ships have been spotted in the area and is another sign of China’s global presence expanding far beyond its own shores. | It is believed to be the first time Chinese military ships have been spotted in the area and is another sign of China’s global presence expanding far beyond its own shores. |
| “We respect the freedom of all nations to operate military vessels in international waters in accordance with international law. We are aware of the five People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships in the Bering Sea,” said Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman. | “We respect the freedom of all nations to operate military vessels in international waters in accordance with international law. We are aware of the five People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships in the Bering Sea,” said Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman. |
| “This is the first time we have observed PLAN ships in the Bering Sea.” | “This is the first time we have observed PLAN ships in the Bering Sea.” |
| The vessels are in international waters near the Aleutians, a chain of islands that fan out from the Alaskan mainland. The boats comprise three combat ships, an amphibious ship and a replenishment vessel. | The vessels are in international waters near the Aleutians, a chain of islands that fan out from the Alaskan mainland. The boats comprise three combat ships, an amphibious ship and a replenishment vessel. |
| You can read more here: | You can read more here: |
| Related: Chinese naval ships spotted off Alaska coast during Obama visit to state | Related: Chinese naval ships spotted off Alaska coast during Obama visit to state |
| 5.49am BST | 5.49am BST |
| 05:49 | 05:49 |
| The full text of Xi’s speech (in English) is here. | The full text of Xi’s speech (in English) is here. |
| It’s heavy on anti-Japanese rhetoric, with seven mentions of the phrase “Japanese aggression”, plus a “ Japanese militarist aggressors”, “Japanese militarists” and a “foreign aggressors”. | It’s heavy on anti-Japanese rhetoric, with seven mentions of the phrase “Japanese aggression”, plus a “ Japanese militarist aggressors”, “Japanese militarists” and a “foreign aggressors”. |
| The Soviet Union gets a namecheck, but the other second world war allies do not. | The Soviet Union gets a namecheck, but the other second world war allies do not. |
| 5.38am BST | 5.38am BST |
| 05:38 | 05:38 |
| President Xi Jinping’s announcement that he would be cutting Chinese troops by 300,000 is likely to lead news headlines after today’s parade (though see here for some caveats about its significance). | President Xi Jinping’s announcement that he would be cutting Chinese troops by 300,000 is likely to lead news headlines after today’s parade (though see here for some caveats about its significance). |
| It will be a cut of 13% in the Chinese armed forces of 2.3 million. | It will be a cut of 13% in the Chinese armed forces of 2.3 million. |
| Here’s the part of his speech today in which Xi announced the reduction: | Here’s the part of his speech today in which Xi announced the reduction: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.42am BST | at 5.42am BST |
| 5.22am BST | 5.22am BST |
| 05:22 | 05:22 |
| Tom Phillips | Tom Phillips |
| Some observers have suggested that Beijing will see the parade as a useful way of diverting attention from the recent economic turmoil in China’s stock market, writes Tom Phillips. | Some observers have suggested that Beijing will see the parade as a useful way of diverting attention from the recent economic turmoil in China’s stock market, writes Tom Phillips. |
| But Roderick MacFarquhar, a Harvard University scholar and former British MP, isn’t convinced by those claims. | But Roderick MacFarquhar, a Harvard University scholar and former British MP, isn’t convinced by those claims. |
| MacFarquhar, who is one of the most respected observers of elite Chinese politics, told the Guardian: | MacFarquhar, who is one of the most respected observers of elite Chinese politics, told the Guardian: |
| I don’t think it’s a reaction to the economy – to take people’s minds off the economy – because it won’t. People are hurting because they invested in shares in Shenzhen or Shanghai. A parade in Beijing with tanks galore is not going to take their minds off it. | I don’t think it’s a reaction to the economy – to take people’s minds off the economy – because it won’t. People are hurting because they invested in shares in Shenzhen or Shanghai. A parade in Beijing with tanks galore is not going to take their minds off it. |
| MacFarquhar thinks the main aim is to establish Xi Jinping as China’s “great nationalist leader” by using war history to stoke anti-Japanese sentiment and show Xi is standing up to Tokyo: | MacFarquhar thinks the main aim is to establish Xi Jinping as China’s “great nationalist leader” by using war history to stoke anti-Japanese sentiment and show Xi is standing up to Tokyo: |
| You can arouse feelings about Japan very easily and this is a way Xi Jinping is attempting to consolidate his hold so that it will be difficult for people to get rid of him. | You can arouse feelings about Japan very easily and this is a way Xi Jinping is attempting to consolidate his hold so that it will be difficult for people to get rid of him. |
| 5.09am BST | 5.09am BST |
| 05:09 | 05:09 |
| Although the Chinese commemorations have not been widely reported in Japan, public broadcaster NHK is now showing some of the parade, focusing on the announcement by Xi of a 300,000 reduction in Chinese troops. | Although the Chinese commemorations have not been widely reported in Japan, public broadcaster NHK is now showing some of the parade, focusing on the announcement by Xi of a 300,000 reduction in Chinese troops. |
| Japan's NHK on the WWII victory parade: highlights China's proposed 300,000 troop reduction (corrects number) pic.twitter.com/nVY1JkJgY2 | Japan's NHK on the WWII victory parade: highlights China's proposed 300,000 troop reduction (corrects number) pic.twitter.com/nVY1JkJgY2 |
| 4.56am BST | 4.56am BST |
| 04:56 | 04:56 |
| For Australian readers wondering who the country’s representative was at the parade today: it was senator Michael Ronaldson, minister for veterans affairs. | For Australian readers wondering who the country’s representative was at the parade today: it was senator Michael Ronaldson, minister for veterans affairs. |
| Like the UK, which sent former minister Kenneth Clarke, the big names in the Australian government stayed away. | Like the UK, which sent former minister Kenneth Clarke, the big names in the Australian government stayed away. |
| The US did not send a representative. | The US did not send a representative. |
| 4.52am BST | 4.52am BST |
| 04:52 | 04:52 |
| The clearing of the skies over Beijing is neatly illustrated by this gif from Flightradar. | The clearing of the skies over Beijing is neatly illustrated by this gif from Flightradar. |
| Now the flights will presumably have to wait for the 70,000 doves and balloons to disperse. | Now the flights will presumably have to wait for the 70,000 doves and balloons to disperse. |
| Traffic on a normal day in and around #Beijing versus today due to #VDay celebrations. http://t.co/zbnrS1DYMa pic.twitter.com/aBCM54WNQN | Traffic on a normal day in and around #Beijing versus today due to #VDay celebrations. http://t.co/zbnrS1DYMa pic.twitter.com/aBCM54WNQN |
| 4.48am BST | 4.48am BST |
| 04:48 | 04:48 |
| Tom Phillips | Tom Phillips |
| All of a sudden it is over. Thousands of doves and balloons have been released into the air above Tiananmen Square and spectators are being ushered out of the stands. | All of a sudden it is over. Thousands of doves and balloons have been released into the air above Tiananmen Square and spectators are being ushered out of the stands. |
| Putin, Xi and the other dignitaries have stepped back from the balcony, and it’s now a race to get into the shade. | Putin, Xi and the other dignitaries have stepped back from the balcony, and it’s now a race to get into the shade. |
| 4.39am BST | 4.39am BST |
| 04:39 | 04:39 |
| And now balloons. There could well be 70,000 of those too. The doves of peace and multicoloured balloons feel a little jarring after all the missiles, it’s probably fair to say. | And now balloons. There could well be 70,000 of those too. The doves of peace and multicoloured balloons feel a little jarring after all the missiles, it’s probably fair to say. |
| 4.37am BST | 4.37am BST |
| 04:37 | 04:37 |
| This just about sums it up: | This just about sums it up: |
| Xi Jinping: "We love peace" State TV commenter on parade: "Look at this missile, it can hit Hawaii" | Xi Jinping: "We love peace" State TV commenter on parade: "Look at this missile, it can hit Hawaii" |
| 4.37am BST | 4.37am BST |
| 04:37 | 04:37 |
| Seventy thousand doves have just been released over Tiananmen Square. | Seventy thousand doves have just been released over Tiananmen Square. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.15am BST | at 5.15am BST |
| 4.34am BST | 4.34am BST |
| 04:34 | 04:34 |
| The dress worn today by Peng Liyuan, the wife of Xi Jinping - and herself a famous folk singer - has attracted consumer attention in China, Fergus Ryan reports from Beijing: | The dress worn today by Peng Liyuan, the wife of Xi Jinping - and herself a famous folk singer - has attracted consumer attention in China, Fergus Ryan reports from Beijing: |
| Online shoppers can already snap up her parade outfit on e-commerce site Taobao, China’s eBay, according to Forbes writer Liyan Chen. | Online shoppers can already snap up her parade outfit on e-commerce site Taobao, China’s eBay, according to Forbes writer Liyan Chen. |
| You can already buy Peng Liyuan's parade outfit on Taobao. This is Chinese speed. pic.twitter.com/oI52Mt8oYH | You can already buy Peng Liyuan's parade outfit on Taobao. This is Chinese speed. pic.twitter.com/oI52Mt8oYH |
| Chinese netizens went into a frenzy over an overcoat Peng wore on her first trip as first lady in 2013. | Chinese netizens went into a frenzy over an overcoat Peng wore on her first trip as first lady in 2013. |
| But soon after her sartorial flair took over the Chinese internet, skittish censors stepped in to wipe it off the web. | But soon after her sartorial flair took over the Chinese internet, skittish censors stepped in to wipe it off the web. |
| Sina Weibo blocked searches for “Peng Liyuan same item” and “First lady same item” at the time, China Digital Times noted. | Sina Weibo blocked searches for “Peng Liyuan same item” and “First lady same item” at the time, China Digital Times noted. |