The formation of the People's Liberation Army's Cyberspace Force marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

China held a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the  80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, pledging the country's commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties.

Highlighting the significance of the victory 80 years ago, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said it marks China's first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

Led by the CPC flag, the Chinese national flag, and the flag of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the marching formations made a concentrated appearance, hoisting the flags of the services and arms and the flags of the People's Armed Police Force. This marked the first collective display of the new layout of the Chinese military's force structure during the parade.

A total of 45 echelons/formations participated in the parade, with most of the weaponry and equipment making their debut. This fully demonstrated the lineage inheritance of the heroic War of Resistance units, showcased the new outlook of the people's military in political construction, and displayed the new layout of its force structure, new progress in modernization, and new achievements in combat readiness in the new era.

Global Times reporters noted during the ceremony that the joint military band, comprising over 1,300 members, was responsible for the musical performances, while the air flag-guarding echelon opened the parade sequence. Accompanied by passionate military music, the flag of the CPC, the Chinese national flag, and the flag of the Chinese PLA flew high.

Twenty-six helicopters formed a massive "80" in the sky to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War. Three helicopters respectively carried banners reading "Justice will prevail! Peace will prevail! The people will prevail!" 

The Chinese nation has always cherished peace and will forever stand on the right side of history and on the side of fairness and justice.

Global Times reporters noticed at the ceremony that the first to be reviewed were 13 foot formations. Following the comprehensive deepening of reforms in military, a new structure and layout of military services and arms have been formed. Four military services formations, four arms formations, and the formation of the People's Armed Police Force made their appearance, hoisting the flags of their respective services, arms, and the flag of People's Armed Police Force in a concentrated manner.

The aerospace force formation also made its debut at the parade. As a new and high-quality force for the peaceful use of space, it effectively safeguards lasting peace and common security in space and provides strategic support for building China into a space power.

In addition, the formations related to the digital battlefield, cyber defense, and cyberspace force were also reviewed for the first time. China actively advocates the construction of a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative, and orderly cyberspace, resolutely safeguards cybersecurity, and firmly defends cyber sovereignty.

The information support force formation also made its debut at Tian'anmen Square. As a brand-new strategic arm, the information support force seizes the high ground of information, focuses on innovation and strength, and empowers all domains to win information-based and intelligent wars.