China's V-Day commemorations draw global recognition

China's grand Victory Day commemorations on September 3 – marking eight decades since World War II's conclusion – elicited notable recognition from military experts, media pundits and global leaders for its historical resonance and diplomatic significance.

The commemorations, highlighted by a grand military parade, showcased thousands of People's Liberation Army troops alongside advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, stealth aircraft, underwater drones and intercontinental ballistic missiles, while the presence of world leaders, including Russia's Vladimir Putin and the DPRK's Kim Jong Un, underscored strategic alignment and reinforced China's position as a force for unity among developing nations.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who attended the commemorations, emphasized the importance of global participation by stating that it was a "great mistake" for EU heads of state and prime ministers to ignore the event. The parade also drew close attention from Japan, where responses reflected a mix of awe and heightened interest in China's military advancements.

Observers in the United States say the event was designed to signal Beijing's growing strength and cohesion as a global power. Richard Bush of the Brookings Institution told Taipei Times that China appears intent on conveying it "is getting stronger and stronger," while Bonnie Glaser from the German Marshall Fund noted the parade also served to promote China's Global Governance Initiative and reinforce its wartime narrative.

International media highlighted the display of China's domestically developed weaponry, with Foreign Policy noting that China is no longer merely catching up to other military powers but is now innovating and leading in certain domains. This shift, the publication observed, is altering regional military balances that had long favored the U.S. and its partners.

The Indian Express reported that the parade underscored the strength of the Chinese nation, while The Straits Times interpreted it as a signal that Beijing views its wartime history as foundational to its identity as a major international power committed to multilateralism and stability.

Military observers point to notable advances in China's defense capabilities. Raymond Kuo, director of Rand Corporation, told The Guardian that the unveiling of a submarine-based intercontinental ballistic missile highlighted advances in China's push to develop a full nuclear "triad," with capabilities spread across land, air and sea to provide balance and resilience.

Russian analyst Alexey Anpilogov noted that China has for the first time presented its strategic nuclear forces in a comprehensive way, while also pointing to the anti-drone systems on display.

Drones are a new threat, and the countermeasures must be inexpensive, mass-produced and effective, he said, adding that China had demonstrated the strength of its defense industry in producing some of the world's most advanced weapon systems.

"From massive, underwater torpedoes to state-of-the-art laser weapons that shoot down drones, China's latest military parade will now be broken down and analyzed by Pentagon experts and defense officials around the world," wrote Frank Gardner, a security correspondent at the BBC.

Mikhail Khodaryonok, a Russian columnist, observed that while the formations were massive in scale, they were also highly disciplined and meticulously organized, leaving no room for criticism. The array of hardcore equipment, he said, underscored China's formidable combat power.

Some Western watchers have viewed the parade with caution, raising questions about China's future intentions with a growing military, but China experts emphasize the commemorative aspect of the event.

Ladislav Zemanek, a non-resident research fellow at the China-CEE Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Budapest, highlighted the mentality underpinning the commemorations.

"Unlike Western liberal elites, who have provoked new conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and revived militarism while attempting to rewrite history, China has taken a different path," he wrote in an article published on The Herald.

"It promotes peace, favors diplomacy over confrontation, and seeks to build international cooperation instead of division."