Following a flag raising ceremony, President Xi Jinping addressed the nation, hailing the country’s achievements over seven decades, and spoke with optimism about China’s future.
“The Chinese people managed to stand up on their feet and embark on a great journey of national rejuvenation,” he said.
A new supersonic reconnaissance drone, the DR-8, was also shown off during the parade, which Beijing will use as a sensor platform in conjunction with ballistic missile systems.
The DF-41 also made its debut on Tuesday, a three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of about 7,500 miles, which can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads, each able to select its own target.
The older, more familiar DF-5B ICBM also made an appearance, with a column of military vehicles carrying the weapons across Tiananmen Square.