Xi shows solidarity with Putin and Kim at military parade in Beijing
Xi Jinping is presiding over one of China’s biggest military parades in a decade, staging a show of military might in Beijing while standing in solidarity with fellow strongmen Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.
A procession of China’s newest tanks, drones and missiles past Tiananmen Square on Wednesday will mark the 80th anniversary of the second world war victory over Japan. It is the first time the Chinese, Russian and North Korean leaders have gathered together in the same place.
Xi welcomed Putin, Kim and other world leaders at the bottom of the Gate of Heavenly Peace on Wednesday morning, on the north of the square, before escorting them to the viewing platform.
Uncrewed systems highlight of parade
Uncrewed systems were a highlight of the parade, in an indication of the increasingly fierce race between China and the US for technological supremacy in autonomous weapons, which military leaders on both sides believe would be decisive if their forces were ever to fight one another.
Aside from equipment shown as part of the naval troops, three formations presented autonomous systems including robodogs and new large air drones.
In another first, the People’s Liberation Army paraded the three newly established forces in charge of aerospace, information warfare and cyber warfare across Tiananmen Square. The three units were created last year in the latest round of Xi’s decade-long effort at restructuring the military.
The naval formation also included huge shipborne laser weapons, which state television extolled as a key part of air defences for the navy’s surface fleet.
Incidents with Chinese ships using lasers to blind the pilots on other countries’ surveillance aircraft have repeatedly triggered tension with neighbours as well as the US, Australia and Canada.
China displays its military kit
After inspecting troops lined up on Beijing’s main east-west thoroughfare from an open limousine, Xi watched from the rostrum as 45 formations paraded by, including newly formed units of the People’s Liberation Army and several weapons never seen in public before.
He applauded as seven fighter jets flew in formation over Tiananmen Square, leaving a stream of colours. Rows of trucks carrying autonomous vehicles drove past Xi and other leaders.
Three naval warfare units displayed the YJ-15, 17, 19 and 20, four different kinds of supersonic and hypersonic missiles which state television said can be launched from a range of platforms including surface ships and submarines.
The PLA showed off new autonomous underwater weapons including an uncrewed sub-surface ship and submarine-shaped object that state television said was an autonomous underwater minelaying vehicle.
