2025-08-11
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party’s claim of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. To commemorate this, a military parade will be held in front of Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3, with several rehearsals leading up to the grand event. On the evening of August 9, a comprehensive drill was conducted, creating an atmosphere of heightened security similar to being in a state of imminent threat, resulting in the gradual evacuation of tourists without proper credentials. The related exercises are scheduled to conclude by the morning of August 10, with another round planned for the 16th.
According to the official Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency, the first comprehensive drill for the “9.3” military parade took place at Tiananmen Square from the evening of August 9 to the early hours of August 10, involving approximately 22,000 participants. The exercise encompassed ceremonial events including a commemorative assembly, serving as a full-scale examination of organizational support and command operations.
Information from social media platforms indicated that on the morning of August 9, traffic restrictions were already being implemented on Chang’an Avenue. Temporary control measures were put in place in the Tiananmen Square area starting at 6 p.m. on August 9, leading to reports of a large number of ambulances spotted passing through Chongwenmen Hotel towards Tiananmen Square. From now until the conclusion of the military parade on September 3, traffic control in the Tiananmen Square area and related roads will be conducted on a rotational and sectional basis.
Maps have shown that multiple road sections near Tiananmen Square have been subjected to control measures, with several subway stations being closed off. Main thoroughfares such as Chang’an Avenue, Jingshan Front Street, and Dongdan North Street have been sealed off to traffic.
A resident of Beijing, Mr. Wang, conveyed to reporters, “The traffic control measures have had a significant impact on the lives of ordinary people. Communities are restricted in their movements, shops are closed making it inconvenient to buy essentials. Many subway stations, especially those near Tiananmen Square, have stopped services, starting from the 8th and 9th of the month, with trains skipping stops and not making regular stops in the vicinity of Tiananmen Square.”
Some social media users noted, “Traffic control measures have been implemented around Wangfujing; hotels are filled with police officers who do not allow guests to leave and require registration.”
Others shared, “Our residential area has been cordoned off, preventing food delivery services; while some individuals hinted that these measures are all in preparation for the military parade on September 3.”
A media professional in Beijing, Mr. Long, highlighted the Communist Party’s frequent use of large-scale events that disrupt daily life, stating, “The Party’s tendency towards such dramatic displays significantly impacts the lives of ordinary citizens, a trend that has persisted for years. During the annual Two Sessions in February and March, the tension is palpable, with heightened security on public transport and increased police presence, leading to serious inconveniences in daily commutes.”
Mr. Long further expressed, “The Communist Party’s emphasis on grand military parades is merely a superficial display, a waste of resources that disregards the deteriorating livelihoods of the people, rather focusing on ostentatious displays that amount to nothing. Streets are flooded with armed police and auxiliary forces, including on bridges and at every intersection.”
“If you were to visit Beijing now, it would feel particularly stifling, with iron barricades scattered all over Tiananmen Square. Even in front of Tsinghua and Peking University, the scene remains the same, with barricades on the left and right, each of them manned by guards. It gives the impression that it’s some sort of sensitive government agency inside,” Mr. Long remarked.