What is China trying to prove with military parade?

Soldiers have worn through 16,000 pairs of shoes after spending months practising their goosesteps, the state media report. Many gripped chopsticks between their teeth in order to master the military's "standard smile", often snapping them in two. It seems that nothing has been left to chance. Chinese-built satellites will guide the parade's 12,000 participants, ensuring they don't stray more than a few centimetres from their correct spots. Read more