China showed off its military might in a lavish parade to mark 80 years since Japan's defeat at the end of World War Two on Wednesday (September 3).

President Xi Jinping has cast World War Two as a major turning point in the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," in which it overcame the humiliation of Japan's invasion to become an economic powerhouse.

Flanked by Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un as the guests of honour, Xi warned the world was facing a choice between peace or war at the beginning of the parade.

When Putin walked shoulder to shoulder with Xi a hot mic caught them discussing organ transplants and the possibility that humans could live to 150 years old.

The moment was carried on the livestream provided by state broadcaster CCTV to other media, including China-state broadcaster CGTN, AP and Reuters. China's radio and TV administration said CCTV's coverage of the event was viewed 1.9 billion times online and by more than 400 million on TV.

As Putin and Xi walked toward the Tiananmen rostrum where they viewed the parade with Kim, Putin's translator could be heard saying in Chinese, "Biotechnology is continuously developing."

The translator added, after an inaudible passage, "human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality."

In response, Xi, who was off camera, can be heard responding in Chinese, "Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old."

Kim was smiling and looking in the direction of Putin and Xi, but it was not clear if the conversation was being translated for him. Putin cannot be heard speaking clearly in Russian in the CCTV clip.

The Russian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CCTV did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment.

As Xi began speaking, the video cut to a wide shot of Tiananmen Square and the audio faded.

More than 50,000 spectators at Tiananmen Square watched aerial displays, marching platoons of People's Liberation Army troops as well as cutting-edge military equipment such as hypersonic missiles, unmanned drones and outfitted tanks.

Helicopters trailing large banners and fighter jets flew in formation above during the 70-minute showcase thick with symbolism and propaganda which culminated in the release of 80,000 peace doves and colourful balloons.

Beyond the pomp, analysts are watching whether Xi, Putin and Kim may signal closer defence relations following a pact signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024, and a similar alliance between Beijing and Pyongyang, an outcome that may alter the military calculus in the Asia-Pacific region.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 3, 2025) (CCTV - No resale / No archive / No access Chinese Mainland)

1. CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING AND HIS WIFE PENG LIYUAN SHAKING HANDS WITH NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG UN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

2. VARIOUS OF PHOTO SESSION OF XI AND OTHER LEADERS AND OFFICIALS

3. XI, KIM, PUTIN AND OTHER LEADERS WALKING

4. XI AND PUTIN WALKING WHILE TALKING TO EACH OTHER/(00:35 - 00:44)TRANSLATOR TRANSLATING XI'S WORDS SAYING (Russian): ”In the past, people rarely lived longer than 70 years, but today they say that at 70 you are still a child."/(00:53 -01:01)TRANSLATOR TRANSLATING PUTIN’S WORDS (Mandarin):“Human organs can be continuously transplanted. the longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality."

5. EXTERIORS OF GATE OF HEAVENLY PEACE/ (01:01 - 01:08) CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING (Mandarin): “Some predict that in this century, humans may live up to 150 years old."

6. XI, KIM AND PUTIN WALKING ON BALCONY OF TIANANMEN

7. XI WAVING

8. PEOPLE CLAPPING

9. VARIOUS OF FLAG RAISING CEREMONY UNDERWAY

10. SOLDIER SALUTING

11. XI SINGING ANTHEM

12. OFFICIALS AT BALCONY

13. XI RIDING IN VEHICLE TO INSPECT TROOPS

14. TROOPS SALUTING

15. XI RIDING IN VEHICLE AND SAYING (Mandarin): “Salute to you comrades!”, / SOLDIERS ANSWERING (Mandarin): “Hail to Chairman!”,

16. XI RIDING IN VEHICLE AND SAYING (Mandarin): “Comrades, thank you for your hard work!”, / SOLDIERS ANSWERING (Mandarin): “We serve the people!"

17. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS CHANTING

18. XI IN VEHICLE DURING INSPECTION

19. GUESTS ON BALCONY INCLUDING TAIWAN POLITICIAN AND FORMER CHAIRWOMAN OF ITS LARGEST OPPOSITION PARTY THE KUOMINTANG, HUNG HSIU-CHU (IN GREEN)

20. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS GOOSE-STEPPING DURING PARADE

21. VARIOUS OF NAVY SOLDIERS (IN WHITE) GOOSE-STEPPING

22. SOLDIERS PASSING BY TIANANMEN DURING PARADE

23. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS FROM INFORMATION SUPPORT FORCE GOOSE-STEPPING

24. KIM TALKING WITH XI DURING PARADE

25. VARIOUS OF TANKS DURING PARADE

26. UNMANNED LAND COMBAT VEHICLE

27. HSU100 UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLE

28. AJX002 UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES

29. VARIOUS OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

30. TRIAD OF MISSILES

31. JINGLEI-1 AIR-BASED LONG-RANGE MISSILE

32. JULANG-3 SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILE

33. DONGFENG-61 LAND-BASED INTERCONTINENTAL MISSILE

34. XI CLAPPING HANDS

35. DOVES BEING RELEASED OVER TIANANMEN SQUARE

36. BALLOONS BEING RELEASED