Armoured vehicles take part in a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)2025-09-02T03:47:13Z BEIJING (AP) Some of the weapons and military units in Chinas major parade were being displayed for the first time.The parade on a central Beijing avenue Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Troops marched by President Xi Jinping, who heads the military as the chairman of the Central Military Commission. New units and equipmentMarching in the parade were traditional Peoples Liberation Army units from the navy and army, but also new ones like the cyberspace unit. The new unit is in charge of cybersecurity defense measures, according to the official Xinhua news agency, and also participated in live-fire drills.Another debut was the information support force, created in 2024 to build network information systems to support military combat readiness.Much of the weaponry and equipment in the parade was being shown to the public for the first time, according to Chinese military officials. They included land, sea and air-based strategic weapons, advanced precision warfare equipment and drones. Warplanes and helicopters flew in formation in the skies overhead. Chinese military helicopters fly over the central business district during a rehearsal ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Chinese military helicopters fly over the central business district during a rehearsal ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Its the first major military parade in China since 2019 on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China. The parade aimed to instill pride in Chinas populace and assure them that the country is strong enough to ward off any attack. But Chinas growing military strength also concerns its Asian neighbors and the United States. Russia and North Korea headline guest list FILE - In this June 20, 2019, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, poses with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a photo at Kumsusan guest house in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) FILE - In this June 20, 2019, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, poses with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a photo at Kumsusan guest house in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More U.S. and Western European heads of state are staying away, as are the leaders of Japan, India and South Korea. Stay up to date with similar stories by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare foreign trip to attend. He was joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the president of Iran, among others.In all, about two dozen foreign leaders attended, including several from Southeast Asia and a few from Africa and South Asia. Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto arrived early Wednesday after being delayed by protests in his country over lawmakers perks.Parade mainly for invited guests A woman cycles past Tiananmen Gate where preparations are made ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A woman cycles past Tiananmen Gate where preparations are made ahead of the Sept. 3 military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japans World War II surrender, in Beijing on Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The event was highly choreographed and tightly controlled. It wasnt the kind of parade where crowds line the streets to watch. Barriers were set up to keep the public one block away and commercial buildings along the parade route were emptied and closed until the parade ended. The subway system running along ChangAn ave was shut Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.For most people, the only way to watch was on television or a livestream.