Chinese Military Parade Between the Limits of Power and Deterrence Messages
In September 2025, the Chinese capital, Beijing, witnessed one of the largest military parades organized by China in its modern history, marking the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War II. The Chinese leadership chose to hold the parade in Tian'anmen Square, which holds deep historical and symbolic significance in the Chinese national consciousness, making it a meeting point between the heroic past and the future message Beijing sought to convey domestically and abroad. Tens of thousands of trained soldiers lined up, accompanied by hundreds of vehicles, tanks, and air defense systems, along with squadrons of modern aircraft and multi-range strategic missiles, in a massive display of military power unseen in the region for decades.
Key Facts of the Parade
The Chinese military parade did not limit itself to conventional equipment; it also included the first public unveiling of what Beijing described as the "complete nuclear triad," meaning the ability to launch nuclear strikes simultaneously from land, sea, and air platforms, a fundamental component of any strategic deterrent system. Advanced ballistic missiles, such as the DF-61 and modified versions of the DF-31BJ, were publicly displayed, along with JL-3 naval missiles capable of launching from advanced submarines, as well as missiles carried on air platforms by modern strategic bombers. Beijing also highlighted more modern military systems, such as escort drones, hypersonic technologies, and laser and robotic weapons, conveying a dual message that reflects both its ambition to establish itself as an advanced technological power and its ability to develop new military tools that could change the rules of the game.
The political landscape was no less important than the military dimension. Sitting on the podium alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping were Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, giving the parade an exceptional geopolitical dimension. This was not merely a protocol presence; it was a clear message that Beijing seeks to establish itself as an "alternative camp" or "symbolic alliance" that positions itself as a confrontational force for the West, or at least as an independent force from the traditional Western system. Thus, the parade seemed to combine military celebration with strategic messages, evoking the historical past and issuing a warning to the future.
Implications of the Military Parade Scenes
The parade carried intense symbolic messages that the Chinese leadership intended to send both domestically and internationally. These messages can be refuted as follows:
- The "Nuclear Deterrence Triad": This appeared publicly for the first time, indicating that China no longer sees the need to conceal its nuclear capabilities. Rather, it is using them as part of its declared deterrence rhetoric, aiming to raise the cost of any attempt to impose Western military will on it in crises such as Taiwan or the South China Sea. Announcing this triad fundamentally changes the calculations of its adversaries, as it means that any initial attack could be met with a devastating response across multiple platforms that are difficult to completely neutralize.
- Historical Symbolism: The parade commemorated the end of World War II, giving Beijing an opportunity to harness national memory to serve its current project. The scene linked the "historic victory over aggression" with "national renewal and military renaissance," a rhetoric that consolidates the Communist Party's legitimacy domestically and grants the current leadership increased political legitimacy. In this way, the parade was not merely a military event, but also a process of reproducing collective memory to serve current trends.
- Combining power and the search for peace: Doves and balloons were released after the parade ended in a clearly symbolic act. Beijing wanted to tell the world: "We have the power to defend ourselves, but at the same time, we are not seeking war." This balance between a show of force and a demonstration of peaceful intentions reflects a skillful use of diplomatic symbolism. It reassures some parties who may be concerned about China's rising power, while simultaneously sending an implicit warning to adversaries that the cost of confrontation will be high.
Contexts and Synchronicities – Why Now?
Beijing's choice of this particular timing for a military parade of this magnitude, along with its accompanying symbolic messages, reflects careful strategic calculations. On the one hand, the parade coincides with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, an anniversary that allows China to invoke history to cement a national narrative based on the idea of victory and liberation from colonialism and external aggression. On the other hand, it coincides with a series of current political and diplomatic events that give the parade a dimension far greater than a mere commemorative occasion.
First, the parade comes at a time when China is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in tensions with the United States and its allies over sensitive issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. Over the past two years, the US administration under President Donald Trump has once again raised the bar with Beijing, whether through significant arms deals with Taipei, increasing the US military presence in the South China Sea, or tightening restrictions on exports of advanced technology to Chinese companies. In this context, the military parade becomes a direct response and a dual deterrent message: a message to the US and its allies that China possesses the capabilities to counter any intervention, and a message to China itself that its leadership is capable of protecting "national unity" and preventing any attempt to separate Taiwan from the motherland.
Second, the parade was carefully timed politically and diplomatically, coming just days after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and the Tianjin 2025 summit, a platform that brought together the leaders of Central Asia, Russia, India, and Pakistan, along with China. Beijing ensured that the parade was viewed as a natural extension of the summit, demonstrating to allies and adversaries alike that China not only presents economic and security initiatives at regional summits, but also possesses the hard power capable of protecting and ensuring their implementation. This synergy between economic diplomacy and the military parade reflects what can be called China's "comprehensive strategy," i.e., the combination of hard and soft power elements to consolidate regional and international influence.
Third, the show comes at a transitional moment in the international system, with relations between major powers experiencing a decline in cooperation and a rise in the logic of competition and struggle for influence. For Beijing, the show of force at this time aims to accelerate the transition to a multipolar world and convince countries in the "Global South" that China is capable of serving as an alternative security and economic guarantor to the West. Hence, we understand the presence of leaders like Putin and Kim Jong-un, a presence that transcends its protocolic symbolism to confirm that Beijing seeks to build new alliance networks that may not be fully formal or institutionalized, but are capable of challenging Western centrality.
Fourth, the domestic dimension of the timing cannot be overlooked. The Chinese leadership, led by Xi Jinping, seeks to bolster its domestic legitimacy by linking historical achievements and military victories, on the one hand, with the "national rejuvenation" project promoted by the Communist Party, on the other. Holding a show of this magnitude at a time when China is experiencing economic challenges (slowing growth, a technology war with the West) sends a domestic message that the country is steadily moving toward achieving its status as a superpower, and that any temporary economic difficulties do not diminish its long-term strategic rise.
Fifth, the show can also be read in the context of the global technological arms race. China realizes that its competition with the United States is no longer limited to trade or geopolitics, but has moved into critical areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and hypersonic military technology. From here, Beijing wanted to demonstrate to the world that it is not merely a recipient of Western technology, but is now capable of producing advanced military systems with indigenous capabilities. This public display of modern military technology, at a time when the struggle over semiconductors and supply chains is intensifying, also makes the show a bargaining chip in ongoing economic and trade negotiations with the West. In other words, the military parade intersected with multiple trends: escalating military tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea, the Tianjin/Shanghai summit, the intensification of the technological conflict with the United States, and the domestic need to bolster national legitimacy. All of these factors made September 2025 an ideal moment for Beijing to utilize the military parade not only as a celebratory tool, but also as a comprehensive strategic platform that sends complex messages both domestically and abroad.
Political, Security, and Economic Implications
1. The Political Dimension
China's recent military parade, with its intense symbolism and deliberate alignments, carried profound political messages. Not only did China showcase its weapons systems, but it also chose to transform the occasion into a platform to highlight its position as a rising power capable of attracting the powers of the "Global South" behind a narrative that differs from the existing international order. The presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un alongside President Xi Jinping was a deliberate indication that an undeclared bloc is gradually taking shape against the Western axis. The image that brought the three leaders together served as a visual declaration of a strong alliance, suggesting the existence of networks of solidarity and strategic alliances in the process of formation, based on the rejection of American hegemony and the pursuit of a more clearly multipolar international order than ever before.
This political dimension goes beyond mere threat of force; China is betting on leveraging its rising power to rebuild an "alternative legitimacy" in the developing world, based on a discourse of equality and a rejection of Western dictates. This has been reflected in the increasing number of countries expressing a willingness to join blocs such as BRICS or the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or at least strengthen their partnerships with Beijing. China's narrative in this context presents itself as a new bridge between Asia, Africa, and Latin America, countering the West's discourse of exceptionalism and hegemony.
2. The security and military dimension:
From a security and military perspective, the parade marked a significant turning point in the equations of nuclear and strategic deterrence. China's demonstration of its "complete nuclear triad"—that is, its possession of integrated land, air, and sea-based nuclear capabilities—carried unambiguous implications for Washington and its allies. This triad means that Beijing is now capable of carrying out a "second strike," meaning a devastating response even after receiving a first nuclear attack. This requires the United States to reconsider the balance of strategic deterrence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
This development is not limited to Sino-American relations alone, but its impact extends to all of East Asia. Japan and South Korea, both under the US nuclear umbrella, will face increasing pressure to increase their defense budgets and may even consider their own nuclear options, at least in the form of advanced missile deterrence programs. India, China's regional rival, may find itself forced to accelerate the modernization of its nuclear arsenal and intercontinental missiles, potentially opening the door to a new round of regional arms race. Thus, the military parade transforms from a mere show of force to a dynamic catalyst for the remilitarization of East Asia, with the risks this poses to global stability.
3. The Economic Dimension
On the economic level, the messages were indirect but highly influential. The parade was not limited to demonstrating nuclear power and conventional capabilities, but also included a demonstration of aviation technology, drones, and hypersonic weapons—fields that represent the future of both military and commercial industries. This deliberate display of Chinese technological superiority means that Beijing is sending a double signal: it is not only a military power, but also an industrial and technological power seeking to break the West's monopoly on advanced technologies.
This point has immediate repercussions for global supply chains. On the one hand, the West will intensify its efforts to restrict China's access to advanced semiconductors and chips, as evidenced by the decisions of Washington, the European Union, and Japan to tighten controls on advanced technology exports. On the other hand, China's progress is sowing apprehension in global markets, as investors reassess their assessments of stability in Asia. This sensitivity is heightened by the growing trend toward Sino-Russian-Iranian partnerships in the energy sector, which could redraw the maps of oil and gas trade, diverting it away from traditional Western-controlled routes. Here, the military parade becomes an event with economic reach, presenting markets with a new equation: China is no longer merely the "world's factory," but a power capable of using its technological and military superiority to restructure trade and energy networks simultaneously.
American Reactions
The military parade sparked a series of sharp reactions in Washington, reflecting the extent of American concern about China's new trends. In his public speech, President Donald Trump described the symbolic alliance bringing together Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang on one platform as a "hostile collaboration" that threatens vital US interests and requires increased strategic vigilance. This speech was not isolated; rather, it came within the context of a broader debate within US political and military circles about the need to reshape deterrence tools in the Indo-Pacific. Voices in Congress and strategic think tanks have risen, calling for increased defense budgets and strengthening alliances with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. This is part of a policy of "containing China," which dates back to the Obama era, was developed during the Biden administration, and then deepened in Trump's election-presidential rhetoric.
On the practical level, indications suggest that Washington is moving along several parallel tracks: First, strengthening its direct military presence in the region by deploying more naval vessels and aircraft carriers in the South China Sea and the East Sea, sending a strong deterrent message. Second, tighten export controls on sensitive technology, especially semiconductors and microchips, which form the backbone of any Chinese military-technological superiority. Third, work on "flexible alliances" with medium-sized countries like India and Vietnam, through arms deals and intelligence cooperation, to pull them away from the Beijing-Moscow axis and prevent the formation of a regional balance of power in China's favor. Finally, the economic card is not absent, as Washington prepares to impose punitive measures targeting specific Chinese military and technological institutions. This approach has previously been used against Huawei and ZTE and appears likely to expand. These responses reflect that the United States views the parade not merely as a protocol event, but as a new chapter in its strategic competition with China.
China Between the Military Parade and the Shanghai Summit
The significance of the Chinese military parade can only be understood in its integrated context with the Tianjin Summit (sometimes referred to in the literature as the "mini-Shanghai Summit"), which took place at approximately the same time. The parade presented the visual and symbolic aspect of Chinese strategy, while the summit represented the institutional-diplomatic aspect. In other words, the parade was a "military display of diplomatic rhetoric" that had been crystallized in Tianjin. At the summit, Beijing pushed for deeper partnerships in technology, energy, and trade with Russia, Iran, and Asian and African countries, emphasizing that the new international order must be built on multipolar foundations. The parade translated these ambitions into the language of "hard power," demonstrating to the world that China is not content with economic action, but rather backs up its diplomatic rhetoric with nuclear deterrence and advanced technology.
The combination of the summit and the military parade carries clear strategic implications; it confirms that Beijing seeks to employ soft and hard power tools within a comprehensive and coordinated framework. The presence of leaders such as Putin and Kim Jong-un, as well as representatives of other countries from the "Global South," at the military parade and during the summit sessions, provided a comprehensive picture of an emerging bloc that combines military-security and economic-diplomatic dimensions. In this way, China seemed to be announcing to the world that it is not merely an "economic power," but a comprehensive power that aspires to reshape the rules of regional and international cooperation in accordance with its interests and vision.
The Limits of Power: Between Media Message and Operational Reality
Despite the media and political hype surrounding the parade, many Western and Asian military analysts believe that a significant portion of the systems on display may not yet be fully operational. Some hypersonic weapons, for example, are still in the testing or experimental deployment stages, meaning they have not yet been fully integrated into the Chinese military's combat doctrine. Furthermore, some of the naval nuclear platforms featured in the parade have yet to demonstrate their ability to carry out long-range missions under actual warfare conditions.
However, this assessment does not diminish the seriousness of the message Beijing intended to convey. A military parade is not necessarily a literal reflection of combat readiness, but rather a tool for building "psychological deterrence" that parallels, and perhaps exceeds, physical deterrence. Showcasing advanced weaponry is sufficient to convince adversaries that China possesses the ability to surprise them in the near future, a practice that falls within the framework of "strategic psychological warfare." Thus, the difference between actual and displayed power becomes part of the game itself: Beijing realizes that its adversaries will still have to act as if these capabilities are fully operational, giving it political and military room to maneuver in the short term.
In conclusion, it can be said that the Chinese military parade in September 2025 went beyond being a celebration of a historical anniversary to become a multidimensional strategic tool. Internally, it strengthened the legitimacy of the Chinese leadership and linked the military modernization project to a comprehensive national narrative that reproduces the "Chinese Dream" in an advanced military-technological guise. Externally, it sent parallel messages: a strong deterrent message to the United States and its allies that Beijing now possesses the capabilities for comprehensive deterrence, and a diplomatic message to the "Global South" that China seeks a more just and pluralistic international order. The parade's coincidence with the Tianjin summit added an additional dimension to the event, as military power intertwined with networks of economic and political alliances, while the presence of Putin and Kim marked a milestone in the crystallization of a growing symbolic alliance. However, the question remains; To what extent can China transform this symbolism into a solid operational capability that will practically change the rules of the international game?