Photo： VCG

The Victory Day military parade, which marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was held in Red Square in Moscow, Russia on Friday. The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), bearing aloft the five-starred red flags of China, marched proudly across the cobblestone square with powerful, precise steps. Their perfectly synchronized movements — flawless down to the millimeter — drew enthusiastic cheers from the Russian spectators, making them a striking symbol of China’s presence on Red Square. 

In 2015, the PLA Guard of Honor participated for the first time in Russia’s military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War. Ten years later, the PLA Guard of Honor were invited again to join the 80th anniversary celebrations. 

Experts view this latest invitation as a significant tribute to the China-Russia friendship forged in the anti-fascist war, a resolute defense of the just legacy of World War II, and a powerful reaffirmation of both countries’ commitment to global peace.

“Ten years ago, I joined the Red Square parade for the first time as a member of the Chinese formation. A decade later, I returned to Russia as a squad leader. As I marched on Red Square, I felt not only the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, but also the ever-deepening friendship between China and Russia,” Xu Zedong from the PLA Guard of Honor told the Global Times. 

To showcase China-Russia friendship during the celebrations, the PLA Guard of Honor learned to sing Russian classics such as The Sacred War and Kalinka. On Red Square, they also chanted in Russian, “Long live China-Russia friendship, long live world peace.” These gestures aimed to evoke the shared historical memory of the Chinese and Russian peoples standing together against fascism.

The Global Times has learned that 119 service members from the PLA Guard of Honor participated in the military parade. Among them, 102 appeared on Red Square. Their average height was 1.87 meters, and their average age was 20.

“Participating in this celebration, showcases the Chinese military’s image and conveys our nation’s aspiration for peace and commitment to safeguarding it,” said Zhang Dingxin, a member of the PLA Honor Guard. Ahead of the mission, the unit engaged in focused study sessions on World War II history, particularly the Soviet Union’s role in the Great Patriotic War, to deepen their understanding of the event’s significance.

Upon arriving in Moscow, the unit conducted three adaptive training sessions to prepare for the time difference, adverse weather conditions like snow, wind, and rain, and the uneven terrain of Red Square. These sessions ensured optimal performance on May 9. For example, the marching pace was specifically adjusted for Red Square — from the standard 112 steps per minute to 120 — to ensure precision and synchronization, according to the PLA Honor Guard. 

“Seeing foreign troops study our training standards, and when I heard fellow Chinese citizens around Red Square chant ‘Long live China,’ I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in being a Chinese soldier,” said Wang Zihe, a member of the honor guard. 

“We represent our country’s image and fulfill the sacred mission of safeguarding peace. As our nation grows stronger, Chinese soldiers are ever more confident and capable of contributing to global peace and development,” he said.

During the celebrations, the PLA Guard of Honor received a warm welcome from Chinese students in Russia and local residents. Earlier footage circulated on social media showed Chinese students marching alongside the PLA troops during rehearsals, chanting military slogans and singing songs in unison to express deep national pride.

The PLA Honor Guard embodies not only military competence but also a contemporary expression of China’s rich cultural heritage,” said Fan Zijun, a member of the PLA Honor Guard. The enthusiastic response from international students and local residents speaks to the honor guard’s cultural resonance and reflects how a new generation of Chinese youth is projecting a more confident national image on the global stage, said Fan. 

During the rehearsal, the PLA Guard of Honor also performed a song created during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression—and chanted the slogans: “Justice will prevail, peace will prevail, the people will prevail.”

In a poignant moment, a Chinese student in the crowd held up a special edition of the Xinhua Daily published on August 10, 1945. This historic extra edition documented the victorious moment in the World Anti-Fascist War when Japan accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and surrendered unconditionally. Five days later, on August 15, 1945, Japan formally announced its unconditional surrender.

“Our call of ‘three prevails’ on Red Square is not only a profound reflection on the course of history but also a powerful appeal for peace and justice,” Zhu Weiming from the PLA Honor Guard, told the Global Times. He emphasized that the PLA’s participation in the Moscow parade, along with the singing of anti-Japanese aggression songs, served as a solemn tribute to history and the fallen, a call to cherish peace, and a vow to forge a better future.

“Our message — ‘Justice will prevail, peace will prevail, the people will prevail’— is a powerful voice from China resonating across the world. It embodies the spirit, responsibility, and sense of mission of a major country’s military in this new era,” Zhu added.