The military parade held in Beijing on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II was described as one of the most striking and large-scale events in recent history. This assessment was given by retired Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin, a military expert.

Dandykin pointed out that the parade introduced entirely new branches of the armed forces, including space and cyber units, underscoring a growing technological emphasis in China’s military structure.

He drew particular attention to the unveiling of a new long-range hypersonic missile, noting that it was presented as capable of reaching nearly any target within the United States. He contrasted this with the difficulties the U.S. continues to face in developing similar systems.

The event also featured an extensive range of robotic systems designed for combat and support roles. These included engineering vehicles, ground combat equipment, naval and aerial platforms, as well as reconnaissance and strike drones that, according to the expert, appeared to be integrated with fighter aircraft.

Dandykin stressed that China has made a dramatic leap in defense technologies in recent years, now producing almost the full spectrum of weaponry domestically, much like Russia and the United States.

He concluded that the parade signaled Beijing’s readiness for not only local conflicts but also potential large-scale confrontations at the global level, adding that such a display likely gave Western observers much to reflect upon.