Overview

• Beijing’s September 3 event showcased new road‑mobile and silo‑based ICBMs, the JL‑3 submarine‑launched ballistic missile, and a newly revealed air‑launched nuclear‑capable missile, signaling a maturing triad.
• The lineup highlighted hypersonic and anti‑ship systems alongside unmanned combat aircraft, electronic warfare assets, and directed‑energy air‑defense platforms, underlining China’s anti‑access focus.
• The parade formally featured aerospace, cyberspace and information support units, reflecting the PLA’s shift toward integrated, tech‑heavy, multi‑domain operations.
• More than two dozen foreign delegations attended, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, while the marching formations were exclusively Chinese, unlike 2015.
• Chinese officials framed the commemoration as honoring shared wartime sacrifice and a commitment to peace, as outside observers and Taipei underscored continuing disputes over wartime history and strategic intent.