Hong Kong, Sept. 9 -- With Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un on his right and left hands respectively, Chairman Xi Jinping exulted in an extravagant military parade in Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing on 3 September.

Much of the equipment was officially unveiled for the first time, and real surprises were among them. Perhaps overall, the greatest impact - figuratively speaking - was achieved by the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) plethora of missile types.

The parade celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Japan in World War II, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to hold the Japanese people responsible for war crimes committed nearly a century ago.

Attending the parade, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Gan K...