China has begun rehearsals for its upcoming military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. The September 3 parade will be held in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and is expected to feature some of the country’s most advanced military systems.
Over the weekend, large amounts of Chinese military equipment were seen moving through the capital. Photos circulating on social media revealed new torpedoes, unmanned underwater vehicles, and coastal anti-ship missile systems. Next-generation armored vehicles were also spotted, many equipped with unmanned turrets, including upgraded tanks and armored personnel carriers.
One of the most notable sightings was a nuclear-powered torpedo designed for the Type-093B nuclear submarine, mounted on a truck during the rehearsal. However, the greatest attention was drawn to China’s anti-ship missile arsenal. Among the systems observed were the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20, all of which—except the YJ-15—reportedly feature hypersonic capabilities. The Chinese military has not officially confirmed these systems.
The unveiling of this new naval equipment comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, as the United States expands its own presence in the region. Washington has deployed systems including NEMESIS electronic warfare platforms and Typhoon anti-ship missile systems, the latter capable of striking across mainland China.
The September 3 parade will also include a significant foreign presence. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend and will use the trip as a state visit to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Other confirmed leaders include Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing, and Vietnamese President Lương Cường.
Earlier reports suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump might be invited for a trilateral summit with Putin and Xi, but no such invitation has materialized. With recent U.S.-China trade tensions and Trump’s meeting with Putin just days earlier, the prospect of his attendance appears highly unlikely.