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Beijing Restricts Use of Radio Signals in Preparation for End of WWII Parade

| Aug 21, 2015 07:06 AM EDT

Huang posits that the parade is a warning to Washington not to interfere with regional disputes.

Beijing authorities have added the regulation of the use of radio signals to the list of security measures being taken for the 70th anniversary of the end of the War Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) on Sept. 3.

The government has banned the use of wireless Internet and radio signals in neighborhoods near Tiananmen Square, where the military parade will take place, from 12 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the day of the celebration.

Amateur radio stations, campus broadcasting stations and other uses of radio signals, including remote-controlled planes, will be banned citywide for the duration of the event.

Aside from the limitations of signals, Beijing also announced that 850,000 "volunteers from all walks of life" will be sent to patrol "every street and alley" as well as markets and stores. These appointed residents will be looking for security hazards and report them to police from Aug. 22 until the day of the parade.

"People need to patrol each alley and they should be arranged in some important places such as shopping centers and markets. They have to report to the police if potential dangers were found," said the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Previously, Beijing has already announced several other measures.

During the rehearsals of the parade, several roads were closed.

On the day of the parade itself, Beijing Capital International Airport and Nanyuan Airport will shut down operations from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Beijing also announced the grounding of "lightweight helicopters, gliders, hot-air balloons and aerostats" from Aug. 22 to Sept. 4.

The sale of drones has also been suspended, from Aug. 1-21.

Since Aug. 20, Beijing has also restricted the use of private vehicles, with only half of private vehicles allowed on the road on a given day, depending on the plate number. This does not include buses, taxis, ambulances, electric cars and several other vehicles.

Companies that contribute to major pollution have also been forced to suspend operations beginning Aug. 20.

Beijing has also required all parcel deliveries to and from the capital to be made under a real name and subject to extra security checks.

This event will be the first time since 2009 and only the 15th time ever that Beijing will put on such a military parade, as it usually does not resort to such displays of power.

Russia's Vladimir Putin and a few other foreign leaders have confirmed to attend the event.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye has confirmed attendance for the commemorations, but not for the parade. Recently, both China and South Korea have expressed dissatisfaction with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's statement regarding Japan's role in World War II.

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