Timeline: China's V-day commemorations

As the world is turning its eyes to Beijing, the grand V-Day commemorations convey a crystal clear message: it's time to work as one to build a world of lasting peace and universal security.

7:01, Sept. 3
China's V-Day commemorations to begin

A grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will start Wednesday morning in Beijing's Tian'anmen Square.

 

7:11, Sept. 3
Dawn in Beijing

 

7:25, Sept. 3
Key facts of parade

The 70-minute parade will proceed in two steps:

-- A military review by Chinese President Xi Jinping

-- A march-past of troops

Airborne flag-guarding echelons, foot formations, battle flag formations, armament columns and aerial echelons will pass through or fly across Tian'anmen Square in order.

-- 45 formations and echelons will be involved in the grand parade.

 

7:29, Sept. 3
Guests to attend

-- Foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un

-- Heads of parliaments, deputy prime ministers and high-level representatives from various countries, heads of international organizations, and former political dignitaries

-- Foreign friends who had made contributions to China's victory in the war, as well as family members of these friendly personages who have since deceased

Read more: China to host world leaders for V-Day commemorations

 

7:46, Sept. 3
Today in history: China's Victory Day

 

8:29, Sept. 3
Xi greets foreign delegation heads to attend V-Day commemorations

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan greeted the heads of foreign delegations and their spouses ahead of China's V-Day commemorations to be held in Tian'anmen Square Wednesday morning.

 

8:10, Sept. 3
Moments at the Tian'anmen Square

 

8:29, Sept. 3
Xi greets foreign delegation heads to attend V-Day commemorations

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan greeted the heads of foreign delegations and their spouses ahead of China's V-Day commemorations to be held in Tian'anmen Square Wednesday morning.

 

8:38, Sept. 3

Xi ascends Tian'anmen Rostrum, greets war veterans

Xi Jinping ascended Tian'anmen Rostrum and shook hands with war veterans attending V-Day commemorations.

 

8:55, Sept. 3
Xi appears at center of Tian'anmen Rostrum

Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared at the center of Tian'anmen Rostrum in central Beijing ahead of the country's V-Day commemorations.

 

9:01, Sept. 3
China's V-Day commemorations begin

The grand commemorative meeting started in Tian'anmen Square.

Amid gun salutes, honor guards escorted the national flag from the Monument to the People's Heroes in the square center northward to the flagpole.

 

9:08, Sept. 3
Xi addresses the gathering
Xi Jinping addressed the grand gathering in Beijing's Tian'anmen Square to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

 

9:20, Sept. 3
Xi reviews troops as military parade starts

Chinese President Xi Jinping reviewed troops during a military parade 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.

Standing in a Hongqi limousine, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, gave the command for the review to begin.

 

9:45, Sept. 3
March-past of the military parade begins

An air echelon flew over Tian'anmen Square, escorting flags of the Communist Party of China, the People's Republic of China, and the People's Liberation Army.

Another air echelon, consisting of 26 helicopters, followed in a formation that formed huge numerical shapes of 8 and 0, symbolizing the 80th anniversary of the victory.

Three helicopters flew by with banners that respectively read "Justice prevails", "Peace prevails" and "The people prevail."

 

9:48, Sept. 3
PLA guards of honor formation marches through Tian'anmen Square

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation marched through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade, escorting flags of the Party, the nation and the PLA.

 

9:49, Sept. 3
PLA Army formation

The Army formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) passed through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's military parade.

The formation is composed of service members with expertise across a range of military specialties, including armor, infantry, artillery, air defense, reconnaissance, security, maintenance, and vehicle operation.

 

9:49, Sept. 3
PLA Navy formation

The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy marched through Tian'anmen Square in China's V-Day military parade on Wednesday.

 

9:50, Sept. 3

PLA Air Force formation

The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force passed through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade.

The formation is composed of an Air Force unit whose predecessor took part in major battles led by the Communist Party of China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

 

9:51, Sept. 3
Rocket Force formation

The formation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force marched past Tian'anmen Square Wednesday morning in China's V-Day military parade.

The Rocket Force, renamed from the Second Artillery Force in December 2015, is the core force of China's strategic deterrence.

 

9:53, Sept. 3
PLA's aerospace, cyberspace, information support forces debut

The People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force and Information Support Force made its debut in Wednesday's V-Day military parade through Tian'anmen Square.

 

9:53, Sept. 3
Joint logistics support force formation

The People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s joint logistics support force formation marches through Tian'anmen Square.

9:54, Sept. 3
Armed Police Force formation

The formation of the People's Armed Police Force passed through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's military parade.

The PLA's four service formations, four arm formations and the formation of the Armed Police Force held their respective flags, making a group debut during the parade.

 

9:55, Sept. 3
Reserve force formation

 

9:56, Sept. 3
Militia formation

This is the first time China's militia forces taking part in a major military parade commemorating the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

 

9:57, Sept. 3
Peace keeping force formation

9:58, Sept. 3

Hero units' banner formation

The banner formation showcased 80 honorary banners of the hero units of the resistance war against Japanese aggression in Wednesday's V-Day parade, bearing the glory from the past.

 

9:59, Sept. 3
Ground assault force formation

 

9:59, Sept. 3
Amphibious assault vehicles formation

 

10:00, Sept. 3
Airborne assault formation

 

 

10:02, Sept. 3
Long-range artillery formation

The two types of 191 long-range box-shaped rocket artillery can carry out battle-level strikes and tactical support, which expand the boundaries of ground combat.

10:03, Sept. 3
Carrier-based air defense weapons formation

Four types of carrier-based air defense equipment made appearance at China's V-Day parade, which compose a multi-layered system for air defense covering all ranges.

 

10:04, Sept. 3
Hypersonic anti-ship missiles debut

China's hypersonic anti-ship missiles, including YingJi-19, YingJi-17 and YingJi-20, passed through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day parade. The formation also included YingJi-15 missile.

 

10:05, Sept. 3
Underwater weapon formation

 

10:05, Sept. 3
Early warning detection formation

 

10:05, Sept. 3
Anti aircraft combat formation

 

10:07, Sept. 3
Anti-UAV system reviewed

China showcased its anti-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) systems in Wednesday's V-Day parade. The formation included anti-UAV missile-gun integrated system, high-energy laser weapons, and high-power microwave weapons.

The three types of weapons form the powerful "trio" in the PLA's anti-UAV system.

 

10:08, Sept. 3
Cyberspace warfare equipment

China unveiled its cyberspace warfare equipment in Wednesday's V-Day parade. The four types of equipment being reviewed can consolidate cyber defense, and empower all-domain operations.

 

10:09, Sept. 3
Electronic countermeasures equipment

The five types of electronic countermeasure equipment included in the formation are capable of aerial and space defense and countermeasures, and disconnecting enemy networks and breaking digital chains.

 

10:10, Sept. 3
Information support formation

The formation included vehicles of cloud computing, digital intelligence, air-ground networks, and integrated information. They can quickly establish new types of cyber systems to support joint operations.

10:10, Sept. 3
Unmanned land combat formation

 

10:11, Sept. 3
New types of unmanned maritime weapons
Sea-based unmanned warfare equipment, including China's new-type unmanned underwater vehicle, boat and mine-laying system, made an appearance in Wednesday's V-Day parade.

 

10:12, Sept. 3
Unmanned aerial combat formation
China's reconnaissance-and-strike drones, wingman drones, and unmanned ship-based helicopters passed through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade.

The weapons can carry out stealth assault, cover wide range, and collaborate autonomously.

10:13, Sept. 3
Logistics support formation

 

10:14, Sept. 3
Equipment support formation

10:15, Sept. 3

Cruise missiles

China unveiled ChangJian-20A, YingJi-18C, and ChangJian-1000 cruise missiles in Wednesday's V-Day military parade to showcase long-range precise strike and multi-domain deterrence capabilities.

It is the first time the cruise missiles of the PLA Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force units form a joint formation in parade.

10:15, Sept. 3

China exhibits hypersonic missiles
China's hypersonic missiles with all-weather combat capabilities -- YingJi-21, DongFeng-17, and DongFeng-26D -- passed through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade.

 

10:16, Sept. 3
China unveils nuclear triad for first time

China unveiled its land-, sea-, and air-based strategic forces as the nuclear triad for the first time in Wednesday's V-Day military 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.

The weapons are China's strategic "ace" power to safeguard the country's sovereignty and nation's dignity.

10:17, Sept. 3
China unveils nuclear missiles with global reach

China's liquid-fueled intercontinental strategic nuclear missiles DongFeng-5C, which have a global strike range, passed through Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade.

10:18, Sept. 3

Early-warning and command aircraft echelon

Early-warning aircraft KongJing-500A, escorted by J-16 fighter jets, and KongJing-600, escorted by aircraft carrier-based fighter jets J-15T, flew over Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade.

 

10:18, Sept. 3
Special purpose aircraft echelon

 

10:19, Sept. 3

Transport aircraft echelon

10:21, Sept. 3
Strategic bombers echelon
China's strategic bombers H-6N flew over Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade.

Also showcased in the parade were H-6K and H-6J. These bombers are the PLA's air-based long-range strike forces.

10:22, Sept. 3
Airborne refueling tanker echelon

10:23, Sept. 3
Fighter jets echelon
China's fighter jets J-16D, J-20, J-35A, J-20S, and J-20A flew over Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade in two V-formations.

 

10:23, Sept. 3
Carrier-based fighter jets echelon
China's carrier-based fighter jets J-15DH, J-15DT, J-35 and J-15T flew over Tian'anmen Square in Wednesday's V-Day military parade in two V-formations.

 

10:24, Sept. 3
Trainer aircraft echelon

The echelon of seven J-10 aerobatic jets staged an aerial display of 14 colored smoke trails while flying over Tian'anmen Square, symbolizing the 14 years of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the bright prospects of 1.4 billion Chinese people striving for national rejuvenation.

10:26, Sept. 3
V-Day commemorations concludes
China concluded its V-Day commemorations, with 80,000 doves and 80,000 balloons released into the sky over Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing.

President Xi Jinping waved to spectators as the patriotic song "Ode to the Motherland" resonated.

 

16:48, Sept. 3
In remembrance of wartime past

With unwavering pride, they offer a historic salute, to the troops of today, the comrades of the past, and the peace they fought to secure.