At the 93rd National Day military parade, over 100 pieces of new equipment were showcased, capturing the world’s attention. This highlighted how much the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has grown, especially in areas like hypersonic missiles, where China has achieved clear superiority over the West. However, German media, while acknowledging this, claimed that China is only ahead in certain fields and still lags behind the West in overall military strength. The West, according to them, still has a significant space to catch up.
01: A Staggering Array of High-Tech Weapons Shocks the West
The parade, featuring 45 formations, displayed weapons from all three military branches—navy, army, and air force. Many of these were making their first public appearance. The amphibious assault formations caught special attention from Taiwan, while the missile, drone, and aerial formations were the focal points for Western nations.
German media praised the PLA’s achievements, with reporters stating that China had clearly advanced in certain domains, notably in hypersonic missile technology. However, they cautioned that this was just one area, and the West still has time to catch up in others.
The “Eagle Strike” Family: Three New Members Unveiled
In addition to the previously revealed Eagle Strike-21, the parade showcased three new hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles: Eagle Strike-17, Eagle Strike-19, and Eagle Strike-20. These missiles, capable of reaching speeds exceeding Mach 10, present a formidable challenge to enemy naval fleets, as the West has no current solution to intercept them.
For the U.S. Navy, China’s hypersonic missile developments have been an ongoing headache. With the introduction of three new missile variants, the situation has worsened for them, especially considering the limited number of aircraft carriers they possess.
Dongfeng-5C: A Nuclear Nightmare for the West
The Dongfeng-5C, a liquid-fuel nuclear missile, stood out in the nuclear missile segment. The missile’s sheer size is intimidating—it requires three trucks just to transport one unit. The missile’s range is global, and it could reach the U.S. faster than many everyday deliveries. Its capabilities, combined with the impressive Dongfeng-61, underscore the technological gap between China and the West in terms of nuclear capabilities.
Western nations, particularly the U.S., are lagging behind in nuclear missile development. The U.S.’s Minuteman III is outdated, and its replacement, the Sentinel III, is far from ready. This gap is a sore point for the West, which still relies on aging technologies.
02: Is China Still Behind the West in Overall Military Strength?
While German media claims that China is only ahead in specific areas and remains behind in overall military strength, this assessment overlooks China’s considerable progress across the board. The West, particularly in high-tech sectors like jet engines, had previously been a major bottleneck for China’s military development. However, China has since overcome these obstacles, with the country now producing its own engines and chips, ensuring its weapons systems perform optimally.
In terms of weapons quantity and quality, China now surpasses the West. China’s J-20 fifth-generation fighter jets have already reached triple-digit production numbers, while the U.S.’s F-22 is no longer in production. Additionally, China’s shipbuilding pace far outstrips that of the West, with the entire Western world struggling to match even half of China’s shipbuilding output.
Compared to countries like Germany, China has already achieved comprehensive superiority. While there are still areas where China lags behind, such as in stealth strategic bombers, China’s overall military capabilities have seen exponential growth over the past decade.
