They roll down Beijing Street, some covered in prying eyes with giant tarpaulins, but silhouettes of missiles, tanks and undersea vehicles are unmistakable as China prepares its military parade most revealing in six years.
For military observers, the veiled procession of weapons provides valuable clues to what could be displayed at the massive military parade on September 3rd. It will be the biggest display of China’s military hardware advancements since the 2019 National Day Parade.
The parade celebrated 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This year’s parade celebrates the 80th anniversary of another groundbreaking moment in Chinese history, following the surrender of Imperial Japan, which began in 1931, when China’s invasion began.
At the 2019 parade, PLA unveiled weapons such as intercontinental ballistic missiles between road mobiles, medium-range ballistic missiles mated with polar ersonic glide vehicles, and its first undersea drone.
Beijing is pursuing a military accumulation of head touring under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, during which Pra, previously not even one of Asia’s most powerful people, has begun to surpass the US military category, analyst estimates.
On September 3rd, military watchers are hoping for some new versions of the weapons and technology that debuted in 2019.
The parade’s rehearsals show what is almost certainly a new type of Hi-sonic missile system and a huge undersea drone, with tarporins and fabric covers covered among other weapons.
On Wednesday, staff ran through the category list for what PLA will be showing off on September 3rd.
“The parade will include more than 10,000 staff, more than 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground vehicles,” General Xu Guizhong, deputy director of the Parade Command at the PLA Central Theatre Command, spoke of the Beijing briefing.
Xu said it includes over 100 types of equipment, ready for all the fight, produced domestically, and mostly new weapons to debut.
The general abandoned China’s most modern weapon range that has never been seen in the world before, including cutting-edge drones, directed energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, high-sonic systems, air defense and missile defense technology, strategic missiles, and more.
And there is the usual formation of fighter jets, tanks and troops, Xu said.
The plan appears to meet CNN wish list of one of the Chinese citizens, whose recent speculation has swirled.
“I would like to see if there are some drone displays or how different troops present themselves with different orders. I’m also interested in military power such as tanks,” said Li Hongmei, a Yunnan tourist who visited Beijing.
Comment on the Microblog Platform Weibo reflects a strong enthusiasm for the upcoming parade, calling for national holidays so many people can catch it on television.
“Can I take a break to watch the live broadcast?” one poster asks, over 2,000 likes! I’ve got it.
“I will definitely take a break to see on September 3rd and cancel all plans,” another plan writes.
And according to some enthusiastic posts, it’s something the public seems to want more.
“Just 70 minutes? That’s not enough to watch!” one post said.
And it appears that Pra continues to steal excitement.
In the weeks before September 3, the PLA promised details that it is not just Chinese residents who are coordinating the latest updates in the country’s military arsenal.
“Look tune in for specific models of equipment introduced. More details are available immediately,” Xu told a press briefing Wednesday.
Joyce Zian contributed to the report.
