China holds huge military parade to commemorate WW II victory

Displaying its military might, including powerful long range missiles and new carrier aircraft, China today 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 here.
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.

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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, his wife Peng Liyuan received the foreign leaders ahead of the parade
Singh, who took part in the reception held by Xi here last night for the visiting dignitaries, will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
About 12,000 servicemen and women, 1000 foreign troops took part in the colourful parade.

Besides deputing a 75 member military contingent to take part in the parade, Pakistan is represented by its President Mamnoon Hussain and Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Rashad.

More than 40,000 spectators, including Chinese officials, citizens and foreign guests took part in the event which was held under massive security blanket.
Most of the Beijing has been shut down for past few days. The city's international airport was closed for two hours.
Foreign media has been asked report about 10 hours in advance to cover the event. State television has telecast the ceremony live.
China has displayed 84 per cent of its new weapons including long, medium range missiles, aircraft and tanks which were indigenously developed, according to the military.
The highlight of the parade was display of more than 500 pieces of China's latest weaponry as well as nearly 200 aircraft of about 20 different models.

Nearly 1,000 foreign troops from 17 countries including Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Serbia, Tajikistan and Russia took part.
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.
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.