China's military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People's victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War highlights the theme of victory against Japanese aggression, incorporating historical elements, said one of the top organizers of the commemoration.
At a press conference held by China's State Council Information Office on Tuesday, Wu Zeke, a major general and deputy director of the Leading Group Office of Military Parade, introduced the arrangements for the military parade on September 3 at the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing.
The military parade, which is an institutional arrangement for major national memorial events, is a vital part of this year's commemorative event with great political and far-reaching historical significance. Highlighting the theme of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the parade focus on theme of victory and the spirit of war of resistance and integrates the three major elements into the overall design of the event, Wu said.
"First is to carry forward the legacy of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The participating troops are mainly chosen from the units with historical ties to troops involved in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, including major forces like the Eighth Route Army, the New Fourth Army, the Northeast United Army, and the South China Guerrilla Forces. This fully reflects the arduous journey of the people's army against Japanese aggression and underscores the historical inheritance of the revolutionary traditions," said Wu.
"Second is to respect honors and pride. The parade will feature selected banners of honor awarded to military units during the war of resistance, highlighting the great victories and enduring contributions of the people's army in the war. This is also a tribute to revolutionary martyrs, a reminder of the lasting memories of those troops with great merits and honors, and a reaffirmation of the commitment to upholding fine traditions," he said. "Third is to relive historical classics. We established a joint military band to perform well-known songs of the war of resistance, and specially designed signs for the military parade. These elements aim to help people across the country to revisit the history of the war of resistance and reflect on its spirit, and inspire the people's army to resolutely defend the dignity of the country and the nation," he said.
China's military parade marking 80th victory anniversary to feature historical elements
U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday, pulling back from record highs set a day earlier, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new 35 percent tariff on goods imported from Canada and warned of even broader tariff hikes.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 279.13 points, or 0.63 percent, to 44,371.51. The Standard and Poor's 500 sank 20.71 points, or 0.33 percent, to 6,259.75. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 45.14 points, or 0.22 percent, to 20,585.53.
Nine of the 11 primary Standard and Poor's 500 sectors ended in red, with financials and health leading the laggards by losing 1.00 percent and 0.88 percent, respectively. Energy and consumer discretionary led the gainers by going up 0.48 percent and 0.33 percent, respectively.
Trump justified the higher duties on Canada by citing fentanyl concerns and warned the tariffs could go even higher if Canada retaliates.
In an interview with NBC News, the president said he is considering blanket tariffs of 15 percent to 20 percent on all remaining U.S. trading partners, which is significantly above the 10 percent level investors had largely come to expect.
Markets are also watching for further trade developments, particularly with the European Union. While traders anticipate an update from Trump on EU negotiations, it is unclear whether he will impose new tariffs, as he did with Canada, or simply signal progress in ongoing deal talks.
The tech sector, which has helped propel the market to recent highs, was mixed on Friday.
Nvidia shares rose 0.5 percent, extending gains after the artificial intelligence chipmaker became the first company ever to close with a market cap above 4 trillion U.S. dollars.
Amazon added more than 1 percent as its Prime Day sales event wrapped up, while Tesla and Alphabet also climbed more than 1 percent.
Microsoft ticked higher, while Apple and Broadcom edged lower.
Meta Platforms fell 1.34 percent on Friday, one day after reports surfaced that the company had offered a compensation package exceeding 200 million dollars in an attempt to lure away Apple's top executive overseeing artificial intelligence models.
Bond markets reacted to the tariff developments as well, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rising to 4.42 percent from 4.35 percent at Thursday's close, reflecting increased uncertainty about inflation and interest rate policy.
Looking ahead, investors will turn their attention to next week's start of the second-quarter earnings season and key inflation data releases, both of which could shape the Federal Reserve's next moves.
U.S. stocks close lower to end week
