China preparing to showcase new weapons at military parade

According to Wu Zeke, deputy head of the operations bureau at the Central Military Commission’s Joint Staff Department, the parade will feature "combat-oriented joint formations," including ground and naval combat groups, air and missile defense systems, information warfare units, drones, and strategic strike forces.

The joint formations for the upcoming parade will be organized in a way that reflects their functions in real combat, Wu said.

Many of the weapons are expected to be displayed publicly for the first time.

Among them could be the new carrier-based J-15T fighter jet, advanced unmanned systems, directed-energy weapons, and electronic warfare complexes.

All of the equipment, Wu emphasized, is "domestically produced main battle equipment".

According to Reuters, the Chinese military will likely also display anti-drone systems, new tanks, and early-warning aircraft designed to protect aircraft carriers.

The Victory Day ceremony will be held on September 3 in Tiananmen Square and is expected to last about 70 minutes under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This will be only the second parade since 2015 commemorating Japan’s official surrender in 1945. Foreign dignitaries are expected to attend, though the list has not yet been released.

In May 2025, Xi Jinping visited Russia for official events marking the end of World War II, a four-day trip.

It has also emerged that China has significantly accelerated the modernization and expansion of its nuclear arsenal, undertaking the largest buildup of strategic capabilities in decades.

Previous reports have noted that Beijing is speeding up the modernization of its armed forces and expanding its nuclear stockpile. According to US analysts, by 2030, China could possess at least 1,000 nuclear warheads.