Today An 80-gun salute was conducted during the commemoration to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, held in Beijing on September 3, 2025. During the gun salutes, honor guards carried the national flag from the Monument to the People’s Heroes, located in the center of the square, towards the flagpole. As the flag ascended, the entire gathering participated in singing the national anthem – March of the Volunteers – which originated during the wartime. The significant event featured a military parade. Towering edifices resembling the Great Wall were erected in Tian’anmen Square, representing the courage and unity of the Chinese nation in its fight against foreign aggression. President Xi Jinping, who also serves as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over the parade and inspected the troops. Alongside Xi on the Tian’anmen Rostrum were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in addition to more than 20 other foreign dignitaries.
Invitations to the event were extended to representatives of individuals who had supported China’s efforts during World War II, or their family members, from nations including Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. Prior to the parade, Xi delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of the victory achieved 80 years ago, stating that it signifies China’s first complete triumph over foreign aggression in contemporary history. Xi remarked that the Chinese populace made significant contributions to the preservation of human civilization and the maintenance of global peace, enduring tremendous sacrifices during the war. He urged nations to “eradicate the root causes of war and avert the recurrence of historical tragedies.” Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China subsequently designated September 3 as Victory Day. An 80-banner formation commemorating valiant military units from the war paraded past Tian’anmen Square, underscoring China’s role as the first nation to resist fascist aggression, with a prolonged resistance that commenced in 1931. The country effectively contained and engaged over half of Japan’s overseas forces, resulting in 35 million military and civilian casualties, which accounted for approximately one-third of all World War II casualties globally. More than 10,000 military personnel, along with over 100 aircraft and numerous ground weapons, were organized into formations based on a wartime command structure.
