China to Unveil New Weapons at Major Military Parade in September

In a major military parade set to take place in Beijing in two weeks, China is expected to unveil a range of new weapons that will showcase its military strength. The announcement was made by an official on Wednesday, as the nation prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and its victory over Japan.

Advanced Weapons and Military Technology

According to Wu Ziqi, a senior officer in the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, the Chinese military will display some of its latest weapons on September 3, noting that they "reflect the evolving forms of modern warfare." He added that "all the weapons and equipment participating in the parade were selected from the main combat systems in active service and are domestically produced, with a significant proportion of new equipment being unveiled for the first time," according to AFP.

The parade, which will last approximately 70 minutes, is expected to feature strategic weapons, bombers, fighters, hypersonic systems, drones, and anti-drone equipment, though no further details were provided. Wu stated that the parade will "fully demonstrate our army's powerful ability to win in modern warfare... and protect world peace."

Political Attendance and Defense Budget

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the parade in Tiananmen Square, and he is expected to be joined by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and other foreign leaders. This high-level attendance underscores the event's diplomatic significance.

This display of military might follows China's announcement in March of a 7.2% increase in its 2025 defense budget, part of a rapid modernization of its armed forces amidst growing competition with the United States. While China has the second-largest military budget in the world, it still lags significantly behind the U.S.