Beijing. China rolled out missiles, fighter jets, and other military hardware, some shown publicly for the first time, in a major parade on Wednesday marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Troops marched in lockstep past President Xi Jinping, who leads the Communist Party and chairs the Central Military Commission. About two dozen foreign leaders, many seeking closer ties with Beijing, attended the event.

Chinese officials said much of the weaponry had never been seen in public. The lineup included land, sea, and air-based strategic arms, advanced precision systems, and drones. Overhead, warplanes and helicopters flew in tight formations.

It was China’s first large-scale military parade since 2019, when the country celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic. Wednesday’s event aimed to bolster national pride and project China’s readiness to repel any threat. But Beijing’s expanding military capabilities have unsettled the United States and its Asian neighbors.

Absent from the stands were US and Western European leaders, as well as those from Japan, India, and South Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare foreign trip to attend, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s president. Other attendees included leaders from Southeast Asia, Africa, and South Asia. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived earlier Wednesday after being delayed by protests at home over lawmakers’ perks.

The tightly choreographed spectacle was closed to the general public. Barriers kept residents a block away, while commercial buildings along the route were cleared until the parade ended. For most Chinese, the only way to watch was through television or a livestream.

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