China staged a huge parade in Beijing on Sept 3 to commemorate the defeat of Japan in World War II, showcasing its military might on an unprecedented scale underlining the country's determination to make China the pre-eminent Asian power. With combat aircraft roaring overhead, the spectacle through the heart of Beijing ended with helicopters manoeuvring a flight display across the sky in an array forming the number 70 marking the event that happened seven decades ago. Officials said the event involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and 200 aircraft of various types, representing the Chinese military's most cutting-edge technology. China's leader Xi Jinping began proceedings with a speech from the iconic Tiananmen Gate before presiding over the massive parade of tanks, missiles and troops that displayed the Asian giant's growing military might.
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