LIVE: China's V-Day parade of troops, military assets

BEIJING, China — China will hold a massive military parade as a grand commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II through the heart of its capital, but ordinary folks can't watch.

Authorities obsessed with security and leery of any possible hitches will virtually shut down central Beijing on Thursday, keeping most people out of eyeshot for the parade commemorating the defeat of Japan in World War II. Residents who live along the parade route have received notices ordering them to stay off balconies, keep windows shut, invite no guests and — at some buildings — snap no pictures.

China's state media, however, have prepared a live coverage of the event starting around 8:45 a.m.  Watch the streaming video below.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon shine at the top of China's guest list. After them, the wattage gets pretty low.

Beijing says the attendance of 30 overseas leaders from countries ranging from Mongolia to Egypt to Venezuela is a sign that China's long-undervalued contributions to that victory in 1945 are finally getting their proper due. — Associated Press