China is set to stage its largest-ever military parade in Beijing next week, unveiling not only cutting-edge weapons but also the command-and-control technologies needed to operate them in a future conflict.
Alongside hypersonic missiles, stealth drones, and advanced fighter jets, the display will feature battlefield sensors, early-warning radars, and air-defense lasers. Analysts say the spectacle is designed to project strength and deter rivals, yet doubts remain over whether the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), untested in combat since 1979, can integrate these systems effectively under wartime conditions.
Security expert Drew Thompson described the event as “performative,” noting that while the hardware is impressive, it does not necessarily prove operational capability. The parade comes amid heightened tensions in East Asia, with China increasing military activity around Taiwan and the South China Sea, and the US and its allies preparing for potential regional conflict.
Beijing insists the “Victory Day” parade marking the end of World War II will demonstrate its ability to adapt to modern warfare and “win future wars.” Key highlights include the carrier-capable KJ-600 early-warning aircraft, new YJ-series cruise missiles (some with hypersonic warheads), the ZTZ-201 medium tank with advanced sensors, and a newly revealed large undersea drone that analysts believe could complicate US and allied naval operations.
While some observers see the parade as a warning to multiple audiences from India and Russia to smaller regional states others argue it is aimed at shaping perceptions, fostering the belief that China is “too big to fight” and that opposing it would carry unacceptable risks.
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