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China: Marking 70 years after WWII with a show of force

Military parade involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware, and 200 aircraft.

China parade
Soldiers of China's People Liberation Army (PLA) prepare in front of the Tiananmen Gate ahead of the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II on September 3. [Jason Lee-Pool/Getty Images]
By Al Jazeera and Agencies
Published On 3 Sep 2015

China celebrated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and victory over invading Japanese forces on Thursday with a massive show of force.

The lavish military parade in Beijing was held in commemoration of the day Japan officially accepted the terms of surrender imposed by Allied forces in the Pacific conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of several other nations with close ties to China, as well as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, joined Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tiananmen Square to watch the parade.

RELATED: China parade marks Japan’s WWII defeat


China parade
Military aircraft flew over Beijing's central business district during the military parade at Tiananmen Square. [ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images]
China parade
The military band performed prior to the start parade commemorations in front of Tiananmen Gate. [Ng Han Guan/AP]
China parade
Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers marched on Tiananmen Square during the military parade. The anniversary marks the day Japan officially accepted the terms of surrender imposed by the Allied Forces in the Pacific conflict. [Wu Hong/EPA]
China parade
Several international dignitaries including South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Russian President Vladimir Putin joined Chinese President Xi Jinping, former Chinese President Jian Zemin, former Chinese President Hu Jintao, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on top of Tiananmen Gate to watch a military parade. [Andy Wong-Pool/Getty Images]
China parade
Chinese female medical corps soldiers marched on Tiananmen Square during the military parade. [Wu Hong/EPA]
China parade
Chinese soldiers marched in formation past Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City during the military parade. [Kevin Frayer/Getty Images]
China parade
Veterans of WWII also participated in the military parade, saluting as they rode through Tiananmen Square. [Wu Hong/EPA]
China parade
ZLT05 amphibious assault tanks also took part in the parade. The spectacle involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and 200 aircraft of various types, representing what military officials say is the Chinese military's most cutting-edge technology. [Ng Han Guan/AP]
China parade
Chinese spectators photograph the Dong Feng DF-5B intercontinental ballistics missiles on Tiananmen Square during the military parade on September 3. [Xinghua News Agency]
China parade
A military vehicle carrying a Pterodactyl I unmanned aerial vehicle drives past the Tiananmen Gate during the military parade. [Jason Lee/EPA]
China parade
The parade was broadcast over television channels across China. [Mark Schiefelbein/AP]
China parade
Birds were released in celebration over the crowd of spectators during the parade. [Rolex Dela Pena/Pool Photo via AP]