Beijing conducted its most extensive Victory Day military parade to date in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second World War. It was intended as much for international viewing as for the sake of national pride. Twenty-six world leaders, such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, watched as Tiananmen Square was turned into a stage for a well-planned show of strength.

Over 50,000 people were in the square. Accompanied by lines of cutting-edge tanks and missile launchers, the People's Liberation Army marched in unison. Above them, hundreds of aircraft thundered past in tight formation. Unmanned drones, heavy bombers, and stealth fighters dominated the skies. State media has referred to the laser air defence system as the most potent in the world, and hypersonic missiles that are designed for speed and range were among the most elaborately disclosed.

The weapons used and the size of the show sent a message that wasn't just about having fun. Beijing is conveying its intention to control the Pacific's most critical waterways. Its long-term objectives still centre on controlling the Taiwan Strait. The Bashi Channel to the south and the Miyako Strait to the north are both of equal significance. They create a triangle of choke points that might enable China to impede the movement of other forces and project power far into the Pacific.

The significance was obvious to governments, defence strategists, and international markets. This event was not merely a parade. The statement said that the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific is changing quickly.