China’s Power Parade

Beijing rolled out more than just pageantry this week, showcasing both conventional and next-generation weaponry in a military parade held after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Among the headline systems were new variants of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The Dongfeng-61, capable of carrying multiple warheads, and the Dongfeng-5C, designed for launches from northern China to reach targets across the U.S., underscored Beijing’s nuclear reach. Another highlight was the Dongfeng-26D, often dubbed the “Guam Killer,” an intermediate-range missile designed to strike American bases in the Pacific.

The parade also featured advances in hypersonic weaponry. The new Yingji-15 missile was displayed alongside existing YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 systems. Deployable from both ships and aircraft, the YJ series is intended to threaten large surface vessels — the cornerstone of U.S. naval power in the region.