Overview

• China’s Defense Ministry said the Sept. 3 display demonstrated PLA combat capabilities yet reaffirmed a defensive posture and a pledge to eschew hegemony.
• The parade featured nuclear-capable systems across land, air and sea—DF-5C, DF-31BJ, DF-61, the air-launched JL-1, and the JL-3 SLBM—alongside hypersonic missiles, drones, cyber tools and a laser weapon.
• U.S. intelligence assessments warn that China’s expanding missile forces and advanced delivery systems pose a direct threat to the homeland and U.S. forces.
• Independent estimates put China’s nuclear stockpile at roughly 600 warheads in 2025, more than double its 2019 count, though many showcased systems remain untested in combat.
• Regional reactions focus on balancing moves—India touts faster modernization and deeper Quad cooperation—while the guest list, including Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, highlighted diplomatic divides with Europe.