The highly anticipated military parade will be held on September 3rd at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. From August 16th to 17th, about 40,000 people participated in the parade rehearsal. To ensure the safety of the event, Beijing has implemented extensive security measures, which have had a certain impact on the daily lives of its residents.
The parade is expected to showcase a variety of cutting-edge military equipment, including new main battle tanks and unmanned underwater vehicles. Experts have analyzed that besides demonstrating military power, the deeper consideration of this parade lies in consolidating the authority of the Communist Party of China and contending for the discourse power over the history of anti-Japanese War.
According to CCTV news reports, the second comprehensive rehearsal held from August 16th to 17th incorporated more elements and segments on top of the first rehearsal. The Beijing authorities stated that this rehearsal had a longer duration and covered a larger area.
Images and reports circulating on Weibo and overseas social media platforms suggest that the parade will display a range of advanced military equipment.
An article titled “What eye-catching equipment will be showcased in the September 3rd military parade?” published by the well-known mainland website “Zhihu” detailed the potential new equipment that may be unveiled, including a new generation tank with a hybrid power chassis, infantry fighting vehicles with unmanned turrets, various tracked and wheeled unmanned combat robots, and the “AJX002” long-range maritime patrol platform/torpedo.
In terms of missile systems, the parade may feature the dual-use 750mm tactical ballistic missile, a new type of scramjet-powered supersonic anti-ship missile, the Dongfeng-27 hypersonic ballistic missile, and a new generation of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. Additionally, several anti-missile systems such as Red Flag-29, Red Flag-26, and Red Flag-19 are also expected to be showcased.
Overseas netizens have posted images of tanks rehearsing for the parade on X platform, with one user commenting, “Families have been stuck in traffic for 2 hours due to tanks on the road, so plan your travels carefully for the next 2 weeks. There must be a parade rehearsal tonight.”
Shen Mingshi, a researcher at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, told Epoch Times that the parade is a necessary event for the Communist Party of China. He analyzed that the primary goal of this parade is to serve domestic politics, with the main objective being “to consolidate its power base in political struggles and demonstrate its success in diplomacy.”
Shen Mingshi further analyzed that the parade is also aimed at “usurping the leadership of the Republic of China.” He pointed out, “In the past, the victory of the anti-Japanese War was led by the Republic of China and the Kuomintang, and now the Chinese mainland is trying to seize the discourse power and leadership through such activities.”
Regarding the display of weaponry, Shen Mingshi expressed concerns, stating, “If they do not have enough advanced weaponry on display, or if these weapons themselves have many problems and vulnerabilities, this display of strength is not intimidation but rather exposing vulnerabilities, showing their shortcomings to other countries.”
In terms of military equipment display, Shen Mingshi paid special attention to the “AJX002” giant unmanned underwater vehicle that appeared in media photos. He stated that the large tonnage of the unmanned underwater vehicle indicates its long-range or long-haul capabilities, although its specific functions are still unclear.
However, Shen Mingshi also questioned the actual effectiveness of this equipment, pointing out that its massive size raises doubts about whether it can effectively evade detection underwater and in the air. He cautioned that these statically displayed weapons cannot verify their actual performance and cannot rule out the possibility that they are purely for show and intimidation.
As the grand military parade approaches, Beijing’s security measures have reached an unprecedented scale. According to job postings, various districts in Beijing have started recruiting for temporary security positions, primarily responsible for guarding key areas such as power lines and pedestrian bridges.
Officials from the Sun Palace Street Office in Chaoyang District, Beijing confirmed the recruitment of temporary security guards and mobilizing retired individuals to participate. They revealed that “the entire Chaoyang District has mobilized about two to three hundred thousand people, with an estimated one million residents participating across Beijing.”
On August 17th, a Beijing resident, Mr. Wang, described the authorities’ security measures as a “new employment model” during an interview with Epoch Times, detailing the subsidy standards: “The security guarantee within the Beijing city limits is 350 yuan per day, while the security outside the city is led by the Political and Legal Affairs Committee, with food and lodging provided at 200 yuan per day.”
He mentioned that starting next week, residents in relevant areas would need identification documents to freely enter and exit, with food delivery and distribution services being suspended. During the parade rehearsal, “bicycles and cars are not allowed on Chang’an Street, and if you pass through the rehearsal route, your vehicle cannot stop.”
As September 3rd approaches, the military equipment and security mobilization displayed in this parade rehearsal not only reflect the strategic intentions of the Communist Party of China externally but also reveal their internal stability and legitimacy concerns.
Shen Mingshi concluded that the main focus of the grand parade in Beijing is not to impress the international community but to demonstrate strength, seize leadership, with the underlying demand being “to shape and strengthen Xi Jinping’s foundations in power struggles, emphasizing that there should be no change in leadership.”