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China marks Japan WWII defeat, shows rising power in parade
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China held a massive military parade in Beijing on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. It included thousands of troops from 18 countries along with hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles and military aircraft. (Sept. 3) AP
Chinese soldiers march into position ahead of a military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2015.(Photo: Ng Han Guan, AP)
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed his nation as major world power and force for peace Thursday as he presided over a massive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
Speaking from atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing — the same place Mao Zedong stood to declare the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 — he told assembled crowds that his country had achieved “total victory” in 1945, leading to the “great renewal of the Chinese nation.”
As he spoke, fighter jets roared overhead and a parade of tanks, missiles and troops streamed by. His remarks were designed to underline China's determination to become Asia's pre-eminent military and economic power, but he pledged a 300,000 reduction in troops in a bid to show his country poses no expansionist threat.
“This triumph re-established China as a major country in the world and won us the respect of all peace-loving people,” he said.
Even with the cuts, China will continue to have the world's largest standing military.
Earlier, Xi kicked off the proceedings with a speech at Beijing's iconic Tiananmen Gate that was attended by foreign dignitaries including Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. President Obama and European leaders were invited to the ceremony but chose not to attend.
“We Chinese love peace. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion,” Xi said.
Since becoming leader of China’s ruling communist party in late 2012, Xi has worked to raise China’s profile in the world, founding a new international bank and launching a multi-billion dollar infrastructure and trade plan to reconnect China with Central Asia and Europe.
China usually holds lavish military parades only every 10 years to mark the anniversary of the founding of the communist People's Republic. By holding an additional one now, Xi ensures he'll preside over at least two of the prestigious events during his decade-long tenure that ends in 2023.
Thursday's parade — ostensibly to commemorate the 20 million Chinese who died in World War II — is about showing off China’s military might, analysts say. “This (parade) was done from a position of power and confidence,” said Steve Tsang of Nottingham University’s China Policy Institute.
To underline that new-found confidence, China’s defense ministry confirmed Thursday it sent ships to waters off the coast of Alaska while Obama is visiting the state. The Pentagon said it is the first time Chinese naval vessels have operated in the Bering Strait.
Most western leaders stayed away from the event because of the parade’s anti-Japanese tone and its highly militaristic nature. Although China denies the event was intended to embarrass Japan, Xi used a related medal ceremony Wednesday to denounce the country’s wartime acts as “fiendish” and “brutal.”
In the run up to the event, state media republished reports of Japanese soldiers admitting to mass rape and vivisection on Chinese prisoners.
After his speech, Xi got into a black, open-top limousine and drove along the 1.2-mile parade route addressing the troops with shouts of “Greeting Comrades!” and “Comrades, you have been working hard!”
The military parade then moved through Tiananmen Square, the site of student demonstrations and subsequent military crackdown in 1989.
In all, the spectacle involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and 200 aircraft of various types, representing what officials say is the Chinese military's most cutting-edge technology.
When Dong Feng-26 missiles appeared, one commentator on state television said they were capable of reaching Hawaii.
In the eyes of many Chinese, the event — reminiscent of a Soviet-style military parade — was a statement of recovery after 100 years of foreign intervention and occupation ended in 1945.
Families across the country gathered to watch the display together, and many took to social media to express themselves.
"We showed the world our nation’s power. China will not stand to be insulted any more. This is the greatest prosperity that people have seen, and it will be better and better," said a user called Beike on Weibo, China's Twitter equivalent.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, talks with former Chinese President Jian Zemin during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate, in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2015. (Photo: Ng Han Guan, AP)
Chinese female military personnel march during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate, in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2015. (Photo: Ng Han Guan, AP)
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1Utpr6s
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China marks Japan WWII defeat, shows rising power in parade
UP NEXT
03
China held a massive military parade in Beijing on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. It included thousands of troops from 18 countries along with hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles and military aircraft. (Sept. 3) AP
Chinese soldiers march into position ahead of a military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2015.(Photo: Ng Han Guan, AP)
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed his nation as major world power and force for peace Thursday as he presided over a massive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
Speaking from atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing — the same place Mao Zedong stood to declare the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 — he told assembled crowds that his country had achieved “total victory” in 1945, leading to the “great renewal of the Chinese nation.”
As he spoke, fighter jets roared overhead and a parade of tanks, missiles and troops streamed by. His remarks were designed to underline China's determination to become Asia's pre-eminent military and economic power, but he pledged a 300,000 reduction in troops in a bid to show his country poses no expansionist threat.
“This triumph re-established China as a major country in the world and won us the respect of all peace-loving people,” he said.
Even with the cuts, China will continue to have the world's largest standing military.
Earlier, Xi kicked off the proceedings with a speech at Beijing's iconic Tiananmen Gate that was attended by foreign dignitaries including Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. President Obama and European leaders were invited to the ceremony but chose not to attend.
“We Chinese love peace. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion,” Xi said.
Since becoming leader of China’s ruling communist party in late 2012, Xi has worked to raise China’s profile in the world, founding a new international bank and launching a multi-billion dollar infrastructure and trade plan to reconnect China with Central Asia and Europe.
China usually holds lavish military parades only every 10 years to mark the anniversary of the founding of the communist People's Republic. By holding an additional one now, Xi ensures he'll preside over at least two of the prestigious events during his decade-long tenure that ends in 2023.
Thursday's parade — ostensibly to commemorate the 20 million Chinese who died in World War II — is about showing off China’s military might, analysts say. “This (parade) was done from a position of power and confidence,” said Steve Tsang of Nottingham University’s China Policy Institute.
To underline that new-found confidence, China’s defense ministry confirmed Thursday it sent ships to waters off the coast of Alaska while Obama is visiting the state. The Pentagon said it is the first time Chinese naval vessels have operated in the Bering Strait.
Most western leaders stayed away from the event because of the parade’s anti-Japanese tone and its highly militaristic nature. Although China denies the event was intended to embarrass Japan, Xi used a related medal ceremony Wednesday to denounce the country’s wartime acts as “fiendish” and “brutal.”
In the run up to the event, state media republished reports of Japanese soldiers admitting to mass rape and vivisection on Chinese prisoners.
After his speech, Xi got into a black, open-top limousine and drove along the 1.2-mile parade route addressing the troops with shouts of “Greeting Comrades!” and “Comrades, you have been working hard!”
The military parade then moved through Tiananmen Square, the site of student demonstrations and subsequent military crackdown in 1989.
In all, the spectacle involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and 200 aircraft of various types, representing what officials say is the Chinese military's most cutting-edge technology.
When Dong Feng-26 missiles appeared, one commentator on state television said they were capable of reaching Hawaii.
In the eyes of many Chinese, the event — reminiscent of a Soviet-style military parade — was a statement of recovery after 100 years of foreign intervention and occupation ended in 1945.
Families across the country gathered to watch the display together, and many took to social media to express themselves.
"We showed the world our nation’s power. China will not stand to be insulted any more. This is the greatest prosperity that people have seen, and it will be better and better," said a user called Beike on Weibo, China's Twitter equivalent.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, talks with former Chinese President Jian Zemin during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate, in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2015. (Photo: Ng Han Guan, AP)
Chinese female military personnel march during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate, in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2015. (Photo: Ng Han Guan, AP)
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1Utpr6s
0) { %>
Strict Standards: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/noahjames7/public_html/modules/mod_flexi_customcode/tmpl/default.php on line 24
Strict Standards: Non-static method modFlexiCustomCode::parsePHPviaFile() should not be called statically in /home/noahjames7/public_html/modules/mod_flexi_customcode/tmpl/default.php on line 54
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