Beijing to ensure clear skies for WWII parade

BEIJING • China will impose strict restrictions on cars, factories and other polluters to ensure a huge military parade commemorating victory over Japan in World War II takes place under clear skies, media reports say.

The measures, which will also apply during this month's World Athletics Championships, echo the rules for last year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, when Beijing's notorious pollution was replaced with a clear atmosphere derisively dubbed "Apec blue".

The measures include controlling the number of private vehicles on the road through odd-even licence plate restrictions, factory shutdowns and curbs on construction in the capital and nearby regions, the state-run China Daily said yesterday, citing the municipal authorities.

The controls will go into force on Aug 20, two days before the start of the athletics tournament, and continue until the parade on Sept 3.

The Global Times, which has close links to the ruling Communist Party, said that most government vehicles will be immobile during this period.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 05, 2015, with the headline Beijing to ensure clear skies for WWII parade. Subscribe