Beijing prepared for a grand military parade carefully staged by President Xi Jinping. Eight giant Chinese flags framed the portrait of Mao Zedong above the Gate of Heavenly Peace, overlooking Tiananmen Square. Authorities reserved seats for 26 foreign leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, whose attendance gave Xi a major diplomatic boost.
Across the square, floral displays rose high to mark the end of World War II. Around 50,000 invited guests will watch the spectacle. On Monday, the last rehearsal briefly opened Chang’an Avenue, and drivers lifted phones to capture the scene.
The parade commemorates Japan’s surrender 80 years ago. Yet Xi wants more from it. He uses the event to project power and show China’s role as a global force. Over the weekend, he welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited China for the first time in seven years. The SCO summit in Tianjin, which drew more than 20 world leaders, allowed Xi to promote his idea of a new order to challenge the United States.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend a Chinese parade for the first time since 1959. His armored train and heavily guarded motorcade add drama to the event. He joins Xi and Putin at the front, a trio Western analysts already call an “axis of upheaval.” Leaders from Iran, Malaysia, Mongolia, Indonesia, and Zimbabwe will also sit in the stands.
The parade delivers two messages. Globally, it shows China’s military strength. At home, it stirs pride and patriotism. State media released new war films and reports to promote an official view of World War II. Xi’s government also protested after Japan reportedly asked countries not to attend.
Inside Beijing, security has tightened sharply. Officials installed scanners at offices, banned drones, and sent officers to foreign journalists’ homes with reminders to follow rules. Guards occupy overpasses and bridges around the clock to stop protests. The Party wants no repeat of 2022, when a protest banner demanding Xi’s removal appeared on a Beijing bridge.
Preparations transformed the city for months. Workers planted more than 200,000 flags across Beijing. Roads now feature massive floral displays. Business towers shine at night under a new “lightscape.” But daily life grew harder. Tanks rumbled through late-night rehearsals. Residents near Chang’an Avenue could not use their balconies. Schools, shops, and hotels along the route closed for two days. Subway and road closures froze city transport. Workers even hauled away shared bikes from central streets.
Officials may also use cloud-seeding aircraft to ensure clear skies. Past parades relied on this tactic to force rain ahead of time. Forecasts predict sun, but Xi’s team refuses to take risks. For Xi Jinping’s big day, Beijing wants nothing left to chance.
