An eye-catching display of new hypersonic missiles, underwater drones and laser weapons sent shockwaves around the world as China unveiled its latest military technology and President Xi Jinping declared his state as one that could not be stopped as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stepped to the podium and announced the new multipolarity and possibly the irreversible change in the world order.
How China has developed a high-technology army
At a huge military show in Beijing on Wednesday, China demonstrated its power by showcasing laser weapons, enormous missiles, and underwater drones. The attendance of some of the top international leaders has been a point of interest for military analysts, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Xi Jinping proclaimed China to be unbeatable in a speech made during the parade honoring the country’s 80-year victory over Japan in World War II.
One of the principal military technological advances in China that was announced on Wednesday was the DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The giant liquid-fueled nuclear missiles were transported on the flatbed of huge camouflaged military trucks during the parade. Global Times claims that DF-5C can strike any location on Earth.
What this army show tells us about power relations in the world
This shows the meaning of why China has international ambitions. The parade was to carry two new extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles – the AJX002 and the HSU100 – on top of the long trucks. China, although still trailing America in surface naval strength, has the world’s largest program of extra-large uncrewed underwater vessels (XLUUVs) – at least five of which are already in the water.
Dozens of heads of state from around the world, including those from the global south, authoritarian pariah states, and the EU, attended China’s largest military parade in its history on Wednesday. In what has been widely described as a show of defiance against the West, Chinese President Xi Jinping was seen standing alongside North Korean and Russian Leaders Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin. We finally got to see all three leaders together at this point.
How China positions itself as an alternative to US leadership
China is not actually interested in being the world police, in the place of America, as it perceives the world order differently than America does. The Chinese philosophy is that they cannot meddle in matters of other countries and that there are no universal values. This is indeed very appealing to smaller and frequently autocratic states that do not want the US to tell them what to do and are not willing to be labeled for their human rights actions.
This is how this will end the US-China cooperation
The Xi speech at the military parade warned that the world was choosing between a world of peace and war, negotiation and negation, win-win and zero-sum. It was not diplomatic, and whilst these speeches often were highly bombastic, it was not the kind of speech that was seeking to placate or to mollify any insecurities of the West over the military strength of China.
The rise of China’s hegemony is the result of a US retreat in the international arena, and this will have an impact on human rights. Many countries, even small and less powerful nations that used to seek the support of the US, see China as the more reliable partner, economically and politically. China will be buying more political stability and money, and no demands for democratic reforms or protection of human rights and the capriciousness of US behaviour over the past few years has sent many states away.