China has unveiled a range of new weapons, drones and other military hardware in a massive parade that many see as a clear message to the United States and its allies. The event saw Xi Jinping host more than 20 foreign heads of state, including Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, both of whom rely on China for economic support and more.
It was a display of Xi's growing power on the world stage, and of China's military prowess - the show included the 'Guam killer' missile, the 'loyal wingman' drone and even robotic wolves. Beyond the hype and shiny new weaponry, what did we learn? Here are our five takeaways.
1. China has a lot of weapons. How well can it deploy them?
What was clear from Wednesday's display was that China has been able to quickly produce a diverse range of weapons. Ten years ago, the military technology they put on show tended to be 'rudimentary copies' of far more advanced equipment invented by the US, notes Michael Raska, assistant professor in the military transformations programme at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.
But this parade revealed a more innovative and diverse range of weapons, particularly drones and missiles - a reflection of how advanced their defence-industrial complex has become. China's top-down structure and significant resources enable it to churn out new weapons faster than many other countries.
China has the ability to churn out munitions, ships, all these platforms... the state can just make these directives and off they go, says Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow with the Pacific Forum. But how well can China's military integrate these weapons systems? They can show off these flashy advanced platforms, but are they organisationally agile to use them in the way they want to? Dr Raska asks.
2. China is focusing on missiles to counter the US
China has rolled out plenty of missiles, including some new variants. These include the Dongfeng-61, capable of carrying multiple warheads in its nosecone; the Dongfeng-5C intercontinental ballistic missile which could be launched from northern China and hit the US; and the 'Guam Killer' Dongfeng-26D intermediate range missile, which could hit key US military bases in Guam.
There were also several hypersonic anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-17 and YJ-19, which can fly very fast and maneuver unpredictably to evade anti-missile systems. There's a reason for this focus on missiles. China has been developing missiles and rocket forces as a key part of its deterrence strategy - and to counter the US' naval superiority.
3. China is going all the way with AI and drones
There were a wide range of drones, some of them AI-powered, but the one that grabbed eyeballs was the AJX-002 giant submarine drone, capable of surveillance and reconnaissance missions. China also showed off its GJ-11 stealth attack drone, dubbed the 'loyal wingman', which can fly alongside a manned fighter jet and aid it in its attacks.
4. China may have the technology, but the US still has an edge
The parade clearly shows that China is catching up quickly with the US in its military technology, but the US still maintains an edge in terms of operations, experts say. The US military excels because there is a 'bottom-up' culture where units can make decisions as the situation evolves and alter their strategies.
5. The parade was a weapons sales pitch – and a chance to show the US a united front
With the leaders of more than two dozen countries invited to the event, the parade of weapons was essentially a giant sales pitch on Chinese arms to potential buyers. Notable attendees included Putin and Kim, presenting a united front against the US.
