China has made its biggest show of strength in years, displaying tens of thousands of soldiers, hundreds of aircraft and parts of its nuclear arsenal in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
President Xi Jinping was seen for the first time in full military fatigues and gave a speech that assessed the growth of the Chinese armed forces and their role in the world. "A strong army is needed now more than ever," he told troops.
"The PLA has the confidence and capability to defeat all invading enemies and safeguard China's national sovereignty, security and development interests. We need to build a strong people's military more than any other time in history".
Advert
Credit: PA
Credit: PA
Advert
The highlights of the event, which took place in the Inner Mongolian desert region to the far north of the country, included the Dongfeng-31AG, an intercontinental, nuclear-tipped ballistic missile and the Dongfeng-21D, a missile with the capability of taking out an aircraft carrier.
Alongside the missile materiel, there were brand new stealth bomber aircraft and a range of combat-ready troops, numbering 12,000 in total.
The parade was blanket broadcast on state-controlled television within China and live streamed on YouTube for those abroad - the streaming service itself is banned within China.
Advert
Credit: PA
Credit: PA
Xi Jinping repeatedly shouted: "Comrades, you've worked hard" and "Hello, Comrades" to the assembled troops into microphones mounted onto his jeep, while the massed ranks responded with: "Serve the people", "Follow the Party", "Fight to win" and "Forge exemplary conduct".
Advert
It was a busy weekend for shows of military might, as Vladimir Putin attended a naval display in St Petersburg. Fifty warships and submarines left the Neva River and the Baltic Sea for the Syrian coast to mark Navy Day.
Russia usually does its military parades to mark World War Two Victory Day in May, but has beefed up the naval parade in July in recent years.
Credit: PA
Advert
Credit: PA
In reaction to the parades in both China and Russia, the United States and Georgia took part in joint manoeuvres in the Caucasian nation. It is thought that 400 troops were present from other nations, including Germany, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Turkey and the Ukraine.
Eight hundred Georgians and 1600 Americans are taking part in the practice operations, which are a show of strength against the Russians. Georgia was invaded by Russia in 2008 and has a fractured relationship with their near neighbours.
Source: the Sun
Featured Image Credit: PA