80 years after the victory against Japanese aggression, the Chinese people remain on the right side of history

Images via the PCC

By Katherin Hormigó Rubio, translated from the Spanish

"The Chinese people, with immense national sacrifice, made significant contributions to saving human civilization and safeguarding world peace," stated Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China, who also serves as the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the chairman of the Central Military Commission, during the military parade on September 3 at Tiananmen Square, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of the Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the Anti-Fascist World War.

The military parade commenced with 80 cannon shots to mark the occasion, followed by the flag ceremony. During this event, honor guards escorted the national flag from the Monument to the Heroes of the People, located in the center of the square, to the flagpole in the north.

The Chinese president, in his speech, expressed his deepest respect for the veterans, comrades, patriots and generals who participated in the War of Resistance, and the Chinese people, who made essential contributions to the victory of the War of Resistance.

He also expressed his sincere gratitude to foreign governments and international friends who supported and helped the Chinese people in resisting aggression.

Present at this ceremony were counterparts Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, from Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Also arriving in Beijing to join Xi Jinping on this day was Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic.

Twenty-three other leaders participated, including Anwar Ibrahim, of Malaysia; Shehbaz Sharif, from Pakistan; Luong Cuong, from Vietnam; Thongloun Sisoulith, from Laos; and the King of Cambodia. On the European side, only the leaders of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko; Slovakia, Robert Fico; and Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, were present.

Before inspecting his troops, the president of the Asian giant called upon humanity, noting that it "once again faces the choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, mutual benefit or a zero-sum outcome."

In his remarks, the Head of State stressed that "the Chinese people stand firmly on the right side of history and the progress of human civilization, follow the road of peaceful development and collaborate with the people of all nations to create a community with a shared future for humanity."

Xi Jinping concluded his memorable speech by reaffirming that: "The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable! The noble cause of peace and the development of humanity will undoubtedly triumph!"

For ninety minutes, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) showcased its latest equipment, highlighting a significant enhancement in capabilities since the previous display in 2019, which marked the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's founding. The exhibition featured combat drones equipped with artificial intelligence systems designed to operate alongside manned fighters, new hypersonic anti-ship missiles like the YJ-20 and YJ-21, and the DF-27, regarded as the most advanced intercontinental missile following the DF-41.

Missile defense systems like the HQ-29 and HQ-20 were showcased, along with the KJ-600, which is China's first early warning aircraft intended for use on aircraft carriers.

The parade featured the Type 99B tank, equipped with active drone defense, along with the PHL-16 rocket launcher, often referred to as the "Chinese Himars." Additionally, it marked the debut of the new branches of the Armed Forces focused on cyberspace, space, and information warfare operations.

Tiananmen Square was adorned in red, blue, and yellow, serving as a venue to advocate for peace among nations. Overhead, the Chinese air force performed, with helicopters bearing the flags of the Communist Party of China, the People's Republic of China, and the People's Liberation Army.

At the conclusion of the parade, eighty thousand doves of peace soared over the square, honoring the more than 35 million casualties from the 14 years of Japanese aggression, witnessed by the many thousands of Chinese and foreign friends who joined the people on this day.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC