Overview

• Xi Jinping presided over the September 3 event in Beijing, urging the PLA to accelerate building a world‑class military and declaring China’s national rejuvenation unstoppable.
• Formations from all major forces, including the rocket force and a newly raised aerospace force, marched in a largely domestic showcase that contrasted with 2015’s inclusion of foreign troops.
• Hardware on display ranged from nuclear‑triad and hypersonic systems such as the JL‑3 SLBM and DF‑17 to unmanned aerial and underwater platforms, electronic warfare units, and truck‑mounted lasers.
• More than 25 heads of state attended, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, reinforcing Chinese messaging about closer ties with non‑Western partners.
• Expert commentary interprets the spectacle as a signal to Japan, Taiwan and the United States while noting China still lacks a broad expeditionary posture, with limited overseas basing and a near‑term regional focus.