The grand military parade held on Wednesday in Beijing was not just a strategic power demonstration, but also a strong message to global politics. The presence of leaders like Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, transformed the event into an international power-demonstration, just more than the national festival. The weapons and techniques that China unveiled are not only Asia, but will give a new direction to the security concerns of the whole world.
Let us tell you that the most attention weapons are intercontinental ballistic missiles-DF-61 and DF-5C. Of these, DF-5C has been called China’s “global coverage strategic missile”, which is said to be capable of penetrating any target up to 20,000 kilometers away. Its ability to carry several warheads makes it more dangerous. China’s claim that it has a complete “nuclear tride” of land, sea and air-fired missiles, is a deep concern for the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition, hypersonic anti-ship missiles displayed in the parade-YJ-19, YJ-20 and YJ-20 are indications of naval strength. These missiles can be fired with ships, submarines and aircraft and make their speed and flexibility a serious challenge to any naval fleet. Given the increasing tension in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region, the deployment of these weapons is going to increase even more concern for neighboring countries.
In addition, various drones and anti-draone systems displayed by PLA indicate that the future war will not only be of missiles or tanks, but of unmanned warfare systems. Wingmen indicate drones, marine drones and laser-based anti-drain weapons that China has made artificial intelligence and cyber-war an integral part of its military structure. Let us tell you that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) displayed many types of air and underwater drones in the parade. These included new drones-armed limited drones, wingman drones, air superiority drones and ship-flying helicopters. These drones can carry out secret attacks, work long distances and cooperate autonomously. According to media reports, reconnaissance drones can also take aggressive action. The design and purpose of the wingman drone allows them to fly in close formation with human-operated fighter jets, which makes it possible to make effective coordination in air superiority, air protection, repression and escort missions.
Sea drones include Ajx002, HSU100 and a ship -like drone, which is likely to be used like a platform for underwater drones. Ajx002 and HSU100 looks like Torpedo, which has an engine at one end, which carries them forward. Two of the three directed-energy-based anti-draone systems displayed in the parade emit laser beams, while the third microwaves disrupted, passive or destroy the drone using electromagnetic energy centered in the frequency. In addition, the biggest glimpses of the parade were of missiles that have hypersonic glide vehicles. These warheads can reach the target by adopting irregular flight route at greater speeds, at greater faster speed at the speed of sound.
The special thing is that China’s advanced arms systems are believed to increase the security concerns of neighboring countries as well as western countries. However, China has not officially disclosed the firepower and capabilities of these weapons systems. Most of these have not yet been tested in the war and very little information is available about their actual abilities. Nevertheless, this performance clears China’s strategic intent. The event was not only to encourage the internal public or to strengthen nationalism, but to indicate the neighboring countries and Western powers that China is not behind any global power.
This development is a matter of concern for neighboring countries like India. The India-China border already remains tension and in such a situation, this performance of China’s military capacity can be seen as an attempt to create a strategic pressure. The message is also clear for the US and its allies that the power balance in the Indo-Pacific region has now become more complicated than ever.
However, this weapon performance of China was not only a demonstration of technological progress but also a political-communicable statement. It is an attempt to show the world that Beijing is now moving not only economic superpower, but also to become global power from military point of view. The question is whether this power-demonstration will bring balance and stability in the future or will push the Asia-Pacific region towards the weapon race.