"China's September Military Parade to Feature Military Space and Cyber Forces for the First Time Alongside Army, Navy, and Air Force"

"Emphasizing Achievements in China's National Defense and Military Reforms"
"Demonstrating the Further Development of a Military System with Chinese Characteristics"

A Chinese military expert has stated that new military branches, including the military space force and cyber force, will participate for the first time in the military parade China is set to hold this September.

According to the Chinese state-run English-language newspaper Global Times on the 25th, Wu Zheke, Deputy Director of the Operations Bureau of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (Major General), said at a press conference the previous day, "The marching formations will focus on showcasing the structure and deployment of newly established military branches following the reform and reorganization of the Chinese military."

Photo of the military parade held 10 years ago. Chinese Weibo.

Wu Zheke stated, "We have prepared for the parade with maximum cost efficiency," adding that the integration of specific number designs such as 14 and 80 will greatly enhance the commemorative atmosphere.

Regarding this, military expert Zhang Junse explained to the Global Times, "This means that not only the (traditional) branches such as the army, navy, air force, and rocket force are included, but also the military space force, cyber force, information support force, and joint logistics force." He added, "The information support force, military space force, and cyber force will be participating in the parade for the first time," noting that "this highlights the achievements of China's national defense and military reforms and demonstrates the further development of a military system with Chinese characteristics."

Previously, in May last year, China announced a military organizational restructuring, abolishing the Strategic Support Force?which had been the fifth branch following the army, navy, air force, and rocket force?and establishing the military space force, cyber force, information support force, and joint logistics force.

September Military Parade Commemorative Poster. Official Weibo of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.

In addition to the marching formations, China plans to showcase the latest achievements in weapons systems through equipment formations. Unmanned intelligent equipment, underwater combat systems, cyber warfare tools, and hypersonic weapons will be featured, demonstrating the modernization of Chinese military equipment.

Additionally, the event will convey content related to sites and relics from the War of Resistance Against Japan, patriotic education, and the functions of national defense education. Activities will include singing the national anthem, reciting poems about the War of Resistance Against Japan, reading family letters from that era, and exhibiting literary works themed on the War of Resistance Against Japan.

China announced the previous day that it will hold the "80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War (World War II)" and a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3, with President Xi Jinping (General Secretary of the Party) scheduled to deliver a speech. China also plans to invite foreign leaders to the parade.