China's show of power

Seventy years after the end of the World War II, China's leadership has indulged in an exercise of nationalism by holding a military parade. Some 500 armored vehicles rolled over the "Street of Eternal Happiness," as 200 military aircraft flew over the parade. Over 80 percent of the weapons exhibited during the event - including Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles - were shown for the first time.

Around 1,000 soldiers from 17 countries, including Russia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Pakistan and Serbia, took part in the military parade. Against the backdrop of territorial disputes between China and its neighbors in the East and South China Sea, the event was interpreted as a show of force.

The authorities had declared a state of emergency in the capital prior to the commemoration. Since mid-August, production in over 10,000 factories in and around Beijing had been curtailed, and nearly half of the cars had been taken off the streets to reduce air pollution in the city.

Hundreds of thousands of volunteers had worked to clean the streets, and the start of the school year, which normally takes place on September 1, was delayed. The Forbidden City along with the Imperial Palace had been closed for two weeks. The citizens got three additional holidays to look forward to.

Among the heads of state who participated were Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Many world leaders, however, refrained from attending the ceremony. Germany and the US sent their ambassadors. The only EU leader who traveled to Beijing was Czech President Milos Zeman. Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder participated in his private capacity.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had turned down Beijing's invitation to the parade and also postponed a planned trip to China in early September. Japanese media speculated that Abe's decision was related to the parade. Former Japanese PM Tomiichi Murayama did travel to Beijing, but only privately.

It is not clear how much this spectacle of power cost China. A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense declined to comment but said the organizers didn't spend much of the taxpayers' money.

By holding the military parade, President Xi Jinping also wanted to show to the Chinese people that the People's Liberation Army is firmly under his control, Kristin Shi-Kupfer, a China expert at the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), told DW. In addition, Xi intends to change the command structures within the army.