Tourists pass through Tiananmen Square which is decorated with flowers to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II. Photo: IC

Over 500 different vehicles, heavy weapons or artillery pieces and nearly 200 aircraft will be involved in the nation's military parade on September 3, 84 percent of which will make their debut at the event, a senior military official said on Friday.

Approximately 12,000 troops, 500 vehicles, missiles, or artillery pieces of about 40 different types, and nearly 200 aircraft of 20 plus types will be demonstrated at the parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and world anti-Fascist war, Qu Rui, deputy director of the Office of the Parade Leading Team and Deputy Chief of the Operations Department of the General Staff Headquarters, said at a Friday briefing.

"All of the armament is Chinese-made," Qu said, adding that displaying new weapon systems is an international practice in military parades. He did not specify the types of armaments or aircraft models.

An online survey of Global Times earlier in August revealed that netizens were expecting the debut of several vehicles including the Dongfeng-41 intercontinental ballistic missile and Type 99 Main Battle Tank. Aircraft fans anticipated J-20 stealth fighter the most.

Other media reports have said that the J-15 carrier-based fighter may also be showcased.

The scale of aircraft at military parade is believed to be previously unprecedented in China, which consisting of 10 air echelons, including airborne early warning and control (AEWC) aircraft, bombers, fighters, helicopters and the maritime patrol aircraft.

The fighter echelons will be flying on a smaller spacing and at a formation different from previous flights. Four female pilots from the Bayi Acrobatics Team, who often fly J-10 fighters, will be in one air echelon, according to officials.

"Flying at a smaller spacing and with different formations requires better skills of the pilots. This could also demonstrate the combat ability of our air force," Shanghai-based military expert Zha Youyin told the Global Times. Zha added that the helicopter echelon can indicate a stronger ground forces for the People's Liberation Army.

"The parade is intended to commemorate history, cherish the memory of fallen revolutionary heroes, uphold peace and usher in the future, with no specific countries targeted," Qu emphasized.

Professor Qiao Liang at the National Defense University echoed Qu.

"If we can uphold peace and justice through "flexing our muscles," then everything is worth it. It has been proven that the tragedy of history will repeat itself without the ability to contain a war," he said, responding to some Western media accusations.

 

In formation

A total of 50 formations will parade through the Tiananmen Square on September 3. The ground armament formations will be divided into six parts, covering ground combat, air defense and missile defense and maritime attack, said Qu.

More than 50 generals, including lieutenant generals and major generals, will for the first time lead the foot formations and armament formations at the parade, which marked another highlight of the parade, Wang Shun, another senior military official, said at the briefing.

"This showcases our commanders' capability to lead the fight at war," he explained, referring to the generals leading of the ceremonial parade.

Meanwhile, there will be two formations consisting of veterans who will ride in mini buses, representing both forces led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Kuomintang (KMT) Party during the war.

The veterans' average age is 90 and they all live on the Chinese mainland, Qu said.

The two formations will also include the children of fallen soldiers from the CPC and KMT, and outstanding members of forces that supported front line staff. The groups have an average age of about 78 for the children and 88 for the support staff.

Foreign forces



More than 10 foreign armies will participate in the parade as well, including Russia and Kazakhstan, according to Qu.

He did not give the full list of the foreign armies, but said that they include nations from Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

"Their participation in the parade is a clear indication of their attitude to jointly commemorate the victory in the global anti-fascist war, and a symbol of the pursuit of and hope for lasting world peace," Qu said.

 'Parade blue'

The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) issued a notice to urge Beijing and six other neighboring provincial regions to curb their pollution in order to guarantee a clear sky during the parade.

Heavy polluters will be suspended by August 28 in the regions including the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong provinces, while heavily polluting trucks will also be banned from entry to Beijing, said the notice.

Beijing started its traffic limitations on Thursday, allowing vehicles with odd- and even-license plates onto the road on alternating days. More traffic control measures will take effect from Saturday, with some streets near Chang'an Avenue cordoned off for parade rehearsals.

Cities in Hebei have followed Beijing's lead and rolled out car restrictions to improve air quality. Baoding and Langfang, which rank among the worst cities for air quality in China, began their ban on Thursday. It will last until September 3 or 4.

Xinhua contributed to this story