It was a summer evening, the daytime heat had given way to a pleasant coolness. The museum, of course, was already closed, but the square next to it was full of people. Right there on the steps, a mother spread a reed mat and sat with her two sons and a bicycle; nearby, a group of people were playing cards; a little farther away, in a pavilion, mahjong enthusiasts were absorbed in their game, with someone lighting for them with a smartphone in the darkness. A group was dancing to music from a portable speaker.

But what caught my attention most were the photographers, arranging night photo shoots for young women dressed in traditional ethnic costumes—a noticeable trend in contemporary China, reflecting the revival of interest in heritage and the fashions of bygone eras.

This description of a summer evening in Shenyang is directly connected with the recent massive military parade in Beijing, held to commemorate the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. For it is only thanks to the existence of a powerful, well-armed army bound by iron discipline that the people of China are able to spend their summer evenings, popular holidays and such grand official events—such as the military parade—in peace and tranquility.

Ten years ago, on the 70th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, as editor-in-chief of the magazine Russia and China, I attended the parade myself. I photographed China's leaders and the honored guests—heads of state—who observed the parade from the Tiananmen Rostrum, just 30 meters from the press stands. 

Overseas media coverage was one of the outcomes the Chinese Government had intended in organizing the parade and inviting foreign correspondents. Namely, to deliver a clear message to those irresponsible world leaders who threaten China and attempt to stall its development: The Chinese army is ready to deliver a powerful response to any aggressor, no matter how strong.

I witnessed all of this at the previous anniversary military parade in Beijing. In the 10 years that have passed since then, new branches of the military have been created, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) now possesses the most advanced unmanned systems in the world: aerial and underwater drones armed with combat lasers, combat robots, swarms of drones and much more.

On the morning of September 2, President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, as well as the commemorative activities of celebrating the 80th anniversary of China's V-Day. Xi stressed that the aim of putting forward the Global Governance Initiative, which was launched at the summit, is to work with all countries for a more just and equitable global governance system and advancing toward a community with a shared future for humanity.

The beginning of autumn is perhaps the most beautiful season in China. The harvest is underway, the summer heat is receding, and people are beginning to prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Yet, if in the past, a significant part of China's population celebrated on an empty stomach, in the new China, hunger has left the country. There have been times in the old days when Chinese farmers observed the festival while anxiously glancing around, constantly fearing of attacks from enemies. Today they have the PLA under the Communist Party of China to ensure the country's security and development.

The author is editor in chief of Russia and China magazine 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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