China all set to hold biggest ever military parade today

70 YEARS & COUNTING N-day event to be held at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square

BEIJING: China will hold one of its biggest ever military parades on Tuesday as part of its National Day celebrations which coincides with 70 years of the ruling Communist Party’s rule.

The military parade will take place at the iconic Tiananmen Square in front of officials, selected members of the public, and 188 military attaches from 97 countries, according to reports.

The defence ministry has reportedly said that 15,000 military personnel will be taking part, including 59 different elements of the military, while 580 pieces of military equipment will roll through the streets and 160 aircraft will fly overhead.

Chinese President Xi Jinping wil l r e v i e w t r o o p s a l o ng Chang’an Avenue - Beijing’s major thoroughfare - and afterwards a number of foot, armour and aircraft formations will pass through or over Tiananmen Square.

For the first time, a contingent from China’s 8,000-strong UN peacekeeping standby force will also participate.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has expressed happiness about showcasing sophisticated new weapons platforms, all of which it said were already in active service.

A defence ministry spokesman recently said that China had no intention or need to “flex its muscles” with this display, but the focus was on demonstrating a “peace-loving and responsible China”, the BBC reported.

Surges in China’s military spending has accelerated since Xi announced major reforms in 2015. Over the last decade, the defence budget grew by at least 10% every year. It now stands at $168.2 billion, the second largest in the world. Chinese troops take part in drills ahead of the Oct 1 military parade at a camp on the outskirts of Beijing.

NUCLEAR-CAPABLE MISSILE DONGFENG 41

May have the world's longest range at 15,000 km

STRATEGIC BOMBER AIRCRAFT H6-N

Capable of in-flight refuelling and carrying air-launched ballistic missiles.

UNMANNED ATTACK DRONE ‘SHARP SWORD’

For reconnaissance in areas with dense air defence networks and tailing foreign warships The parade will highlight Beijing's ambition to enforce claims to Taiwan, the South China Sea and other disputed territories

The ability to project power is increasingly urgent for Chinese leaders who want to control shipping lanes and waters also claimed by Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines and other governments

US

CHINA SAUDI ARABIA

RUSSIA

SUPERSONIC SPY DRONE DR-8 OR WUZHEN 8

Maximum speed topping 4,100 kph, with the ability to reach Guam Alongside the tanks, troop carriers and columns of goose-stepping soldiers, the procession past Tiananmen Square on Tuesday is expected to showcase a set of shorter-range, non-nuclear missiles

The PLA’S dedicated Rocket

Force has tested advanced ‘hypersonic’ missiles that are almost impossible to intercept, according to a Japanese defence white paper released on Friday

A drone being transferred in Beijing.