In a showcase of China’s military capabilities, the Beijing regime moved forward with a military parade held at dawn (local time) today under the gaze of Xi Jinping and leaders such as Russia and North Korea.
As the Guardian reports, the Chinese government has shown off everything from armored tanks and drones to ballistic missiles, with some of the weapons systems on public display for the first time.
This category includes the DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missiles, which Xinhua reported are the latest generation of missiles capable of carrying up to nuclear weapons, with reports that these missiles have a global strike range.
Meanwhile, fighter jets and stealth planes, the long-range H6 nuclear-capable bombers and the J-16 and J-20 fighters that normally conduct harassment missions in Taiwan’s air defense reconnaissance zone flew in Beijing’s skies.
Chinese media claimed that the parade also featured the new J15-DT electronic warfare fighter, which is being closely monitored by military observers.
Also “paraded” through the streets of Beijing was the Dongfeng-61 missile, a supersonic missile with a vertical launcher, which analysts say makes it “much harder to detect and, therefore, to hit before launch.”
The formations of male and female uniformed men and women who marched in Beijing were also impressive, with the Chinese singling out female militia members.
“The parade is a clear demonstration of the growing capabilities of China’s military designed to make the US, Europe and China’s neighbours think twice before deciding to challenge Beijing’s core national interests,” senior research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Drew Thompson, commented to the Guardian.
Watch the full military parade held in China today
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