China shows its might at WW-II victory parade

Displaying its military might, including powerful long range missiles and new carrier aircraft, China on Thursday held a massive military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory against Japan in the World War II at the sprawling Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Troops from 17 countries, including Pakistan and Russia, formed part of 1000 foreign soldiers who took part in China's first military parade aimed at highlighting the excesses committed by Japanese troops against Chinese in the WW II in which according Chinese historians over 20 million people were killed, eight million forced into labour and thousands of women held as sex slaves.

Here are glimpses of the imposing parade:

About 12,000 servicemen and women, 1000 foreign troops took part in the colourful parade. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

Military helicopters form the number "70" above a Chinese national flag as they perform during the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

More than 40,000 spectators, including Chinese officials, citizens and foreign guests took part in the event which was held under massive security blanket. Seen in this picture is the DF-15B short-range ballistic missiles. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

China displayed 84 per cent of its new weapons including long, medium range missiles, aircraft and tanks which were indigenously developed. Seen in the picture is the Pterodactyl I unmanned aerial vehicle. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

Beijing displayed over 500 pieces of latest weaponry as well as nearly 200 aircraft of about 20 different models. Seen in this photograph are military vehicles carrying the shore-to-ship missiles drive past the Tiananmen Gate. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters

Nearly 1,000 foreign troops from 17 countries including Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Serbia, Tajikistan and Russia took part. Seen in the photograph are military vehicles carry DF-15B short-range ballistic missiles. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Russia President Vladimir Putin were among 30 world leaders who attended the parade besides special envoys of governments which included India's Minister of State for External Affairs General V K Singh. Seen in the photograph are military aircraft performing over Tiananmen Square. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

A 2,400-member military band and chorus performed classic songs well known in the war, including the song "Safeguard the Yellow River" from the Yellow River Cantata, composed in 1939 it inspired numerous Chinese in the dark moments. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

Speaking at the victory parade, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that the 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army, the world's largest, will be cut by three lakh troops. He is seen here with former President Jiang Zemin (right) on the Tiananmen Gate. Photograph: cnsphoto/Reuters

A total of 50 formations of the People's Liberation Army, including 11 foot phalanxes, 27 armament phalanxes, ten echelon formations of aircraft and two veteran teams attended the ceremony. Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters