Regular Press Briefing of the Ministry of National Defense on September 10, 2025

On the afternoon of September 10, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers recent media queries concerning the military on the afternoon of September 10, 2025. (mod.gov.cn)

(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

Journalist: At the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech and inspected the troops for the military parade. How will the military internalize and deliver on President Xi's important speech?

Jiang Bin: In his important speech delivered at the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, President Xi, from the strategic perspective of building a strong nation and rejuvenating the Chinese nation, gave an affectionate review of the magnificent journey of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, highly praised the tremendous contribution made by the Chinese people to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, fully acknowledged the support and assistance provided by foreign governments and international friends to the Chinese people in their fight against aggression, and made a solemn declaration of China's firm resolve to remember history, honor the fallen heroes, cherish peace and forge ahead into a brighter future. His speech aroused passion, patriotism and fighting spirit of the Chinese people.

"The People's Liberation Army is always a heroic force the Party and the people can fully trust." President Xi's strong praise for the great historical feats of the people's military has immensely encouraged officers and soldiers and inspired their confidence. On its new journey to building a strong military, the people's armed forces will bear in mind the trust of the commander-in-chief, carry forward revolutionary traditions, and faithfully fulfill their missions. They will strive with full resolve to achieve its centenary goal, accelerate the building of a world-class military, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, provide strategic support for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and contribute even more to peace and development of the world.

Journalist: China's V-Day military parade on September 3rd has dominated headlines across major global media outlets, with many netizens describing it as spectacular and impressive. What is your comment on this?

Jiang Bin: On September 3rd, the people's military, with great morale as a strong force for peace and justice, had the honor to be reviewed by President Xi, as well as by the Party and the people. This was the first military parade held by China since we embarked on the new journey of advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts. It was also a demonstration of the new image of the people's military on its centennial journey of building a strong military. The troops marched with discipline and vigor, showcasing their steadfast loyalty to upholding the leadership core. The flags fluttered in the wind, carrying forward the great revolutionary legacy of the War of Resistance. The imposing armament formations displayed our determination in deterring war and defending peace with strength. One breathtaking scene after another stirred pride and exhilaration. Many netizens expressed that they gained a profound sense of security and witnessed the Chinese military's unwavering commitment to and strong capabilities in safeguarding peace and justice.

The best way to honor history is to create a better future. On the new journey full of glory and aspirations, PLA officers and soldiers will learn from the reviewed troops and their loyalty to the Party and commitment to orders, their spirit of shouldering responsibilities and fulfilling missions, their drive to excel and determination to achieve victory, and their diligent, steadfast and resilient conduct. We will faithfully perform our duties, strive to build a strong military, and march from one victory to another.

Journalist: According to reports, following China's V-Day military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, international think tanks and foreign media focused on analyzing China's "nuclear triad" striking capability, unmanned combat equipment, cyberspace operational capabilities, and so on. Some media comments suggested that China intends to demonstrate through the parade that military coercion against it is absolutely ineffective. What is your comment on this?

Jiang Bin: The military parade is an important part of the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. It comprehensively demonstrated the new image of the people's military in the new era with stronger political loyalty and a fresh force structure, as well as the latest progress in military modernization, and the new achievements in enhancing combat readiness. Many of the displayed weapons and equipment represent the latest advancements reflecting the evolution of modern warfare, including some major strategic assets of the nation. Together, they highlighted the integrated combat competence, new quality combat capabilities in new domains, and the strategic deterrence capability of the Chinese military. Only by possessing the ability to fight can one prevent war. China pursues a defense policy that is defensive in nature and will never seek hegemony or expansion. The PLA remains a force for global peace, stability and progress. The more capable the Chinese military becomes, the stronger the force in defending peace and preventing war and the more likely it is to ensure peace and stability.

Journalist: You have introduced relevant arrangements of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum. Could you please provide further details on the preparation and the guests invited for the forum?

Jiang Bin: The preparations for the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum have been basically finalized. To date, defense and military leaders from over 100 countries, including Vietnam, Singapore, Russia, France, Nigeria, and Brazil, as well as representatives from international and regional organizations, have confirmed their attendance. The forum will feature wider representation with delegates from more countries, further reflecting its commitment to inclusiveness and openness.

This year's forum will include four plenary sessions and eight simultaneous sessions, with focuses on global security governance, Asia-Pacific security cooperation, safeguarding international order, and building regional peace. In addition, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN, special academic activities on "Contemporary Significance of the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War", "80th Anniversary of UN: Advancing Amid Global Transformations" and "Wartime Memories and Contemporary Peace" will be featured. These activities are aimed to call on countries to jointly safeguard the victorious outcomes of the World Anti-Fascist War and the post-war international order, explore effective ways to resolve conflicts, inject more stability and positive energy into the turbulent and changing world, and strive for a brighter future for humanity.

Journalist: It is reported that the 2nd Military Translation Challenge of the Chinese Armed Forces was successfully held recently, which speaks to the value placed by the Chinese military on talent building for military translation. What is your comment on this?

Jiang Bin: Talent holds the key to building a strong military. Military translation has played an irreplaceable and vital role throughout the history of our military, not only in the struggle to resist foreign aggression and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, but also in comprehensive, wide-ranging and multi-level international military cooperation. In the new era, the Chinese military is engaging with the world with greater openness, confidence and responsibility. Militaries worldwide also look forward to enhancing mutual understanding, trust and cooperation with China, placing military translation in a position of significant responsibility and immense potential. The Military Translation Challenge of the Chinese Armed Forces sets a clear guiding principle that "a good military translator knows war." It aims to inspire officers and soldiers to hone their skills, excel in their roles, and deepen their understanding of war as translators and interpreters, and contribute to building a world-class military.

Journalist: It's reported that the Japanese Ministry of Defense submitted a record defense budget request of 8.85 trillion yen for fiscal year 2026. In addition, Japan will deploy upgraded Type-12 land-based anti-ship long-range missile to Kyushu, whose range covers China's coastal area. Do you have any comment?

Jiang Bin: Japan is accelerating its military buildup, developing capabilities, including offensive weapons and equipment, which far exceed what is required for its exclusively defense-oriented policy. This has sparked vigilance and concerns among peace-loving peoples worldwide, who have to wonder what is the real intention of the Japanese side? We just hosted commemorative activities marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Eight decades ago, the aggressive war launched by Japanese militarists inflicted immense suffering upon the peoples of Asian nations. Today, the resolve of regional countries to defend peace is stronger than ever, and we will not allow Japanese militarism to make a comeback. We urge the Japanese side to profoundly reflect on its history of aggression, earnestly respect the security concerns of its Asian neighbors and the rest of the international community, speak and act with prudence on military and security matters, and avoid repeating past mistakes.