Beijing’s Display of Firepower Highlights Challenge to U.S. Dominance

Summary

• China staged a massive military parade in Beijing for the 80th anniversary of World War II victory, using the spectacle to showcase new weapons and Xi Jinping’s leadership of a Beijing-centered world order.
• Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un stood beside Xi, sharpening the anti-Western optics and signaling alignment against Washington and its allies.
• Advanced hypersonic and nuclear-capable missiles, drones across domains, and a cyber force highlighted deterrence aims—even as questions linger about real combat readiness.

What happened

Xi presided over more than 10,000 personnel and hundreds of military systems rolling past Tiananmen Square, with fighter and bomber flyovers and a closing release of roughly 80,000 doves. Leaders from 26 countries—including Iran—attended. Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted a congratulatory but cutting message online, pointedly addressing Putin and Kim as “conspiring” against America.

Why it matters

• Signaling to the West: The parade communicated deterrence and the ability to project power beyond China’s borders.
• Coalition optics: Putin and Kim flanking Xi reinforced China’s ties with U.S. adversaries and a narrative of resisting “American hegemony.”
• Regional influence: Attendance by Southeast and Central Asian leaders underscored Beijing’s pull—even as many states remain wary of a China-dominated order.

Capabilities on show

Showcased formations included strategic missiles (hypersonic, nuclear-capable), unmanned ground/naval/aerial systems, and a cyberspace combat unit. China’s defense budget has roughly doubled over a decade to about $250B, its nuclear stockpile has more than doubled, and it now fields the world’s largest navy by vessel count. A new carrier with electromagnetic catapults is expected to enter service, narrowing quality gaps with the U.S.

Context & domestic backdrop

The capital was adorned with over 200,000 flags and tight security. The pageantry arrives amid economic headwinds—youth unemployment, debt stress, and a property slump—and after purges of senior commanders that have fueled questions about readiness.

What’s unknown

Analysts caution that parades don’t prove integration and performance under fire. China hasn’t fought a full-scale war since 1979. Dozens of top officers and defense executives have been investigated or removed in the past two years; three members of the seven-seat Central Military Commission have been purged or gone unseen for months.

Ideology & narrative

Framing the event as a tribute to wartime sacrifice, Xi cast the Communist Party as guarantor of national rejuvenation and guardian of world peace. His message: unity and willingness to sacrifice may again be required to counter Western pressure and secure China’s rise.

Outlook & scenarios

1. Deterrence holds: Hardware and alliances of convenience (Russia, North Korea, Iran) complicate Western risk calculus in Asia.
2. Capability maturation: Carrier operations, missile accuracy, and joint C2 improve—raising near-term pressure on Taiwan and regional flashpoints.
3. Friction reveals gaps: Purges, training shortfalls, and integration issues limit effectiveness despite headline strength.