August 30, 2019
Celebrations set against sobering backdrop of deepening trade war with the US and political crisis in Hong Kong.
China will put its military might on show in the biggest parade of its weaponry on Oct 1, when the country celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party taking power.
The occasion will be an opportunity for President Xi Jinping to flaunt his military modernisation efforts and send a message to the world, particularly the US, that it should not be trifled with.
The celebrations will be held against a sobering backdrop of a deepening trade war with the US which has shaken the Chinese economy, and the worst political crisis in Hong Kong since it was handed back to China in 1997.
At a press conference yesterday, General Cai Zhijun, the deputy head in charge of organising the parade, was quick to point out that the weaponry display “does not target any country or region and does not target any specific situation”.
“The Chinese military has always been a staunch force for safeguarding world peace and regional stability,” he said. “At the same time, we have the determination and ability to resolutely safeguard our national sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Gen Cai would not confirm if next-generation made-in-China military hardware such as the world’s longest-range missile Dongfeng-41 would be showcased, but did say the parade will feature some advanced weapons for the first time.
President Xi is also slated to address the nation in what will be a keenly-watched speech that may provide clues to how he intends to navigate challenges from the trade war and unrest in Hong Kong to reunification with Taiwan.
Since coming to power in 2012, President Xi, who also chairs the Central Military Commission, has prioritised the transformation of the People’s Liberation Army into a world-class fighting force.
China is used to marking anniversaries with large military parades, including the biggest in 2015 commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
That show of force featured more than 12,000 troops marching through Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, over 200 aircraft in a flypast and 500 armoured vehicles.
Military expert Collin Koh of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at Nanyang Technological University said the type of weapons systems that China chooses to showcase will point to the signals it wants to send, not only to the US but also closer to home.
“On the one hand, China wants to showcase its military muscle and send a message to its adversaries but, on the other hand, it is trying not to be too showy. There will likely be some balance,” said Dr Koh, adding that Beijing would not want to provide any ammunition to hawks in the Trump administration prone to fanning accusations of an arms race.
While there will be a display of strategic weapons, Dr Koh believes conventional weapons systems will likely be the dominant attraction.
“Taking into account what’s happening in Hong Kong and tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the People’s Liberation Army also needs to be shown to be ready to undertake conventional war-fighting operations,” he said.