China is all set to display its modern fighter jets, highly advanced missiles and latest electronic warfare hardware for the first time at its largest-ever military parade on Wednesday.
The event, which will commemorate the 80th anniversary of China's victory against Japanese aggression in World War II, will be attended by 26 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and Maldives President Mohamed Muizz and the leaders from Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and Central Asia.
The parade, which will take place at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, is seen as a rival parade to the rare one held by the US military in June to showcase its strength. The US military parade, featuring over 6,000 soliders, dozens of tanks, armoured vehicles, helicopters, and warplanes, was to commemorate the US Army's 250th anniversary.
China is attempting to showcase its global influence and military might with the parade. The Chinese military also wants to make the best of the occasion by displaying for the first time its high-profile modern weapons, which, the PLA claims, match those of the US army.
During the parade, stated to be the largest parade held by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), China will showcase a series of new-generation armaments, such as fourth-generation tanks and aircraft, unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, and advanced missiles, including hypersonic ones, Wu Zeke, a senior officer of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), in-charge of the parade, was quoted by state-run news agency Xinhua.
The parade will feature other types of advanced equipment, such as hypersonic and air defence anti-missile equipment and strategic missiles.
Yu Jie, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, quoted as saying that Xi Jinping is trying to lay out his ambition for the global order with this parade.
China's Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei said Putin's attendance highlights the high level of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
The presence of both Putin and Kim at the event is seen as an attempt by China to send a strong message to the US and its President Donald Trump, who tried to woo both the leaders earlier.