The September 3rd Victory Day parade in Beijing showcased an array of military capabilities intended to demonstrate the fruits of its decades-long modernization effort. The parade, in conjunction with the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tianjin prior to the parade, sought to demonstrate the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) growing diplomatic and military power. China sought to promote itself as a world leader offering an alternative vision to the U.S.-led international system while the aerospace capabilities paraded down Chang’an Avenue and flying over Beijing were intended to deliver the message that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is a first rate aerospace power capable of defeating the U.S. military. The parade signaled the PLA’s intent to develop into a joint force capable of operating in all domains with both manned and unmanned systems. The parade’s emphasis on multi-domain precision strike capabilities, joint coordination, and unmanned capabilities across all domains also aligned with the PLA conception that precision, coordination, and speed are critical to dismantling an enemy system of systems.
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