China’s Victory Day parade unveils nuclear missiles, space weapons and robot dogs
China has staged its largest ever military parade, unveiling an arsenal of new nuclear-capable missiles, hypersonic weapons, underwater drones and even robot dogs, in what state media declared a show of force to prove that “the entire world” now lies within Beijing’s strike range.
The Victory Day event, held in Beijing on Wednesday, marked 80 years since Japan’s defeat and the end of the Second World War. It unfolded with both spectacle and menace: 80 artillery shots, helicopter formations trailing banners, and 80,000 doves released at the finale.
President Xi Jinping presided over the parade flanked by Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, alongside dozens of leaders from countries sympathetic to Beijing’s challenge of the US-led order. Western leaders pointedly stayed away.
Xi, standing through the roof of a black limousine bristling with microphones, drove past rows of soldiers and columns of military hardware lined along Chang’an Avenue. He warned that the world now faces a stark choice between “peace and war”.
The centrepieces of the display were nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Dong Feng-61, Dong Feng-31BJ and the new Dong Feng-5C made their first public appearance, with the DF-5C said to carry up to 12 warheads and reach more than 20,000 kilometres—effectively placing the entire globe within range. In another first, the People’s Liberation Army rolled out the JL-1, an air-launched nuclear missile, signalling the full emergence of China’s land, sea and air “nuclear triad”.
Hypersonic weapons featured heavily. China showcased the YJ series—YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20—designed to cripple large ships at sea. Of particular concern to the US Navy is the YJ-21, dubbed the “carrier killer”, capable of supersonic speeds and with a likely range of more than 600km.
The PLA also displayed its growing fleet of extra-large underwater drones. The AJX002, around 60ft long, highlighted China’s ambition to dominate unmanned undersea warfare. With stealthy hulls and pump-jet propulsion, these XLUUVs add to what analysts say is already the world’s largest programme of sea drones.
Space was another frontier on display. The HQ-29 system, described as a satellite-killer, was revealed for the first time. Though details are scarce, its size suggests an extreme range akin to the US Navy’s SM-3 Block IIA. Alongside it came directed-energy weapons: two new laser systems, one ship-based for air defence, the other truck-mounted to shield ground units. These were paraded as cost-effective counters to drones and low-altitude threats.
China’s anti-drone arsenal appeared in full force, from high-power microwave weapons to combined missile-and-gun systems. State media boasted these give the PLA “all-weather combat capabilities”.
The skies over Beijing were filled with fighter jets and bombers. Helicopter groups flew in formation, one spelling the number “80” with rotorcraft, while jets streaked exhaust trails in coloured plumes.
In one of the most striking images, columns of robot dogs were paraded atop armoured vehicles, underscoring Beijing’s ambition to lead in what it calls “intelligentised warfare”. Analysts noted that these machines could be adapted for surveillance, logistics, or even direct combat roles.
China’s 2025 defence budget stands at roughly £186 billion, the second largest in the world. Wednesday’s showcase was a reminder not only of the scale of its investment but of its intent to project power on a global scale.
For the United States and its allies, the new missiles and anti-satellite systems underscore a rapidly shifting balance in the Pacific. With the DF-5C’s reach, the YJ-21’s naval threat, and Beijing’s visible embrace of unmanned and robotic systems, the message from Xi’s parade was unmistakable: China’s military ambitions now extend beyond its borders to the entire globe