China’s Victory Day Parade Will Unveil an Advanced Military Arsenal
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- China’s new missiles: Anti-ship missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles are expected to be shown during the Victory Day parade.
- Evolving tech: Cutting-edge underwater drones, anti-missile systems, and a powerful laser air defense system may also be displayed.
- AI involvement: Reports this year have signaled China’s advancing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military intelligence operations.
China's September 3, 2025, Victory Day Parade will showcase the People's Liberation Army's technological evolution through a comprehensive military technology display featuring several domestically produced weapon systems to signal Beijing's strategic capabilities across emerging warfare domains.
The 70-minute demonstration marks the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II.
Hypersonic Anti-Ship Capabilities
China Victory Day parade rehearsal photos and footage have shown anti-ship missiles, cutting-edge underwater drones, anti-missile systems, a powerful laser air defense system, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and more. Among these are the YJ-series anti-ship missiles, including the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 variants, according to France24.
Military commentator and former Chinese army instructor Song Zhongping told AFP, cited by France24, that "China must develop powerful anti-ship and anti-aircraft carrier capabilities to prevent the U.S. from posing a serious threat to China's national security," referring to tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
Reports say military commentator Wei Dongxu told CCTV that the air-launched variant of the originally sea-based hypersonic missile YJ-21, known as the KD-21 by military observers, could be launched from “outside enemy air defence zones, penetrate interceptors and destroy targets before quickly returning to base.”
Another possible display could be a hypersonic land-based DF-17 missile variant. “Strengthening hypersonic missile capabilities will involve bigger boosters and diversified penetration methods, including manoeuvring paths, decoys, and potentially multiple re-entry vehicles,” Wei added.
Next-Generation Combat Platforms
Described by some Chinese analysts as a "satellite hunter," the mysterious HQ-29 is capable of intercepting missiles at an altitude of 500 kilometres (310 miles) outside the Earth's atmosphere, as well as satellites in low orbit, France24 says.
"China will showcase a new generation of nuclear weapons," analyst Song Zhongping told AFP, adding that all the hardware shown during the parade "will help equalise the military power balance between China and the U.S."
Electronic Warfare Integration
China showcases advanced electronic warfare systems and directed-energy weapons designed for "informatized" conflict environments. These platforms execute simultaneous cyberattacks and electronic jamming operations, targeting enemy radar frequencies, cruise missiles, and satellite communications while protecting Chinese forces from space-based threats.
The demonstration, watched by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and other world leaders, will underscore China's transition from technology adaptation to indigenous innovation, which may surpass Western military advantages in the Pacific theater.
Peter Thal Larsen spoke with author and analyst Dan Wang about China's development and what the U.S. can learn from its rise in the latest episode of The Big View podcast, according to Reuters.
In May, Insikt Group estimated that Chinese generative AI models were then only 3 to 6 months behind their U.S. counterparts in performance benchmarks and were closing the gap.
In June, TechNadu reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China had been advancing its use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in military intelligence operations, utilizing proprietary and open-source large language models (LLMs) reportedly to analyze intelligence data, generate reports, predict battlefield changes, and even facilitate military decision-making.
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