China military parade shows might as Xi Jinping pledges 300,000 cut in army
And he pledged his country would “never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any other nation”.
However his words will not reassure some of China’s neighbours who will have looked on the display of military with some concern.
“The aim of our commemoration … is to bear history in mind, honour all those who laid down their lives, cherish peace and open up the future,” he said.
“That war inflicted over 100 million military and civilian casualties. China suffered over 35 million casualties and the Soviet Union lost over 27 million lives.
“War is like a mirror. Looking at it helps us better understand the value of peace. China will remain committed to peaceful development. We Chinese love peace.”
