China holds massive parade to mark 80th anniversary of WWII victory

China held a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging the country's commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties, Xinhua reports.

Towering structures shaped like the Great Wall stood in Tian'anmen Square, symbolizing the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression.

President Xi Jinping oversaw the parade and reviewed the troops.

Standing beside Xi on Tian'anmen Rostrum were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, along with more than 20 other foreign leaders, including Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Helicopters flew over Tian'anmen Square carrying banners that read "Justice Prevails," "Peace Prevails," and "The People Prevail." The troops marched in tight, powerful formations, their faces lit with confidence and pride. Columns of new tanks, artillery and other military equipment rumbled through the square..

China unveiled its land-, sea-, and air-based strategic forces as the nuclear triad for the first time in the parade.

The triad included JingLei-1 air-based long-range missile, JuLang-3 submarine-launched intercontinental missile, DongFeng-61 land-based intercontinental missile, and new type DongFeng-31 land-based intercontinental missile.