Behind Chinas Military Parades, Soldiers Face Corruption and Uncertain Futures

Officers are seen in the hatch of a Type 99 main battle tank as it roll during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2025. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty ImagesNews AnalysisWhen the Chinese military marched through Beijing in September to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the spectacle appeared to project discipline, power, and loyalty—core images that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to associate with its armed forces.