In a historic and highly symbolic display of military strength, China for the first time showcased its complete nuclear triad during a grand military parade in Beijing held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, also referred to domestically as the “People’s War of Resistance against Japanese aggression.”

This parade not only highlighted Beijing’s rapidly advancing nuclear capabilities but also emphasized President Xi Jinping’s message that China now stands on par with other major nuclear powers like the United States, Russia, and India in terms of strategic deterrence.

The event also featured the participation of several global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, underlining China’s efforts to project its geopolitical influence and consolidate partnerships with like-minded states.


The highlight of the parade was the unveiling of the Dong Feng-61 (DF-61), a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) believed to be the next-generation successor to the powerful DF-41. Although official details on the DF-61 remain closely guarded, its public debut has stirred speculation within defence and strategic circles about advancements in range, mobility, payload capacity, and potential incorporation of hypersonic glide vehicles.

The DF-41, unveiled in 2019, was already regarded as one of the most powerful ICBMs in the world, boasting a range of 12,000 to 15,000 km with the capability to carry up to 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). The appearance of DF-61 signals China’s sustained investment in survivability and second-strike capability, as well as possible efforts to counter advancements in U.S. missile shields and Indian deterrence programs.

China also used the occasion to publicly exhibit—for the first time—its air-launched long-range nuclear missile JingLei-1 (JL-1), completing the third leg of its nuclear triad. This addition complements the already known land-based ICBMs and the submarine-launched Julang-3 (JL-3) missile, giving Beijing the ability to launch nuclear strikes from land, sea, and air with greater flexibility.

The development is particularly significant given China’s traditionally land-dominated nuclear arsenal; the formal introduction of air and sea-launched systems enhances survivability and complicates adversaries’ efforts to neutralize Chinese nuclear forces in a first strike. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army described these weapons as the country’s "strategic ace power" designed to safeguard sovereignty and national dignity.

Adding to the strategic significance, Beijing also revealed a range of advanced platforms that extend beyond traditional nuclear deterrence. Newly displayed assets included hypersonic strike missiles, armed drones, and a massive extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV), drawing particular attention from analysts.

The XLUUV, still relatively novel compared to other domains of warfare, is recognized as a potential offensive platform capable of sabotaging critical undersea infrastructure such as telecommunications cables and gas pipelines—targets that are increasingly seen as strategic vulnerabilities in modern global conflicts. The inclusion of such weapons at the parade highlights China’s emphasis on multidomain warfare capabilities, combining nuclear deterrence with asymmetric and technological innovations to strengthen its coercive power projection.

The developments align with projections made in the 2024 U.S. Department of Defence report titled “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China.” This document assessed that the PLARF (People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force) was steadily advancing long-term modernization aimed at enhancing strategic deterrence.

Citing ongoing programs likely referring to DF-61, the report observed that China’s nuclear forces were expanding both in quantity and sophistication. The U.S. estimated that by mid-2024, China’s stockpile consisted of over 600 operational nuclear warheads, a number expected to increase significantly—potentially reaching 1,000 by 2030—marking one of the fastest-growing arsenals among nuclear-armed states.

Strategically, China’s public declaration of its triad bears important significance for Asia and the global security environment. India, for instance, had formally declared its nuclear triad capability in 2018 following the INS Arihant’s completion of a deterrence patrol. Until now, only the U.S., U.K., France, Russia, and India had fully operationalized nuclear triads.

With China’s entry into this exclusive group, the nuclear order in Asia becomes more complex, as two of its largest regional powers, India and China, maintain assured second-strike capabilities against each other. Furthermore, at a geopolitical level, the parade was deliberately designed to invoke World War II memory, positioning China both as a historical victim of aggression and a present-day defender of sovereignty, even as it militarily asserts itself on the global stage.

Taken together, the unveiling of the DF-61, JL-1, JL-3, and complementary advanced strike systems represents a decisive step in China’s ongoing military modernization effort—one that prioritizes survivability, flexibility, and multidomain dominance.

The event illustrates China’s ambition to enhance deterrence against potential adversaries, especially the United States and India, while simultaneously signalling to allies and competitors alike that it occupies a central place in shaping the future balance of power.

The combined narrative of historical remembrance and modern military display strengthens Beijing’s domestic message of resilience under Xi Jinping, while externally it projects strategic confidence supported by tangible military capability.

Agencies