Like a dude who got jacked and now won’t stop posting gym pics, China is showing off its military glow-up.
What happened: Earlier this week, China held a massive military parade, hosting world leaders and global dignitaries. While it was nominally meant to recognize the 80th anniversary of victory in WWII, it was really an excuse for China to flex its might to the West.
- China unveiled a host of new military technology, including long-range nuclear weapons, anti-aerial lasers, stealth drones, and so-called robot wolves.
- Defence expert Michael Raska told BBC News that the new, more advanced equipment is a stark departure from 10 years ago when the Chinese military had mostly "rudimentary copies" of U.S. tech.
Big picture: Besides showing off deadly new toys, China also stirred the pot with its guest list. The trio of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un met publicly for the first time ever, projecting a united front against Western leaders, most of whom skipped the celebrations.
- And while he didn’t attend the main event, Indian PM Narendra Modi — who is steaming mad at the U.S. for aggressive tariffs — did attend a diplomatic summit ahead of the parade.
Why it matters: As the U.S. loses respect amid trade turmoil, China is looking to take on the role of a true counterweight to the U.S. in global affairs. It started to do this through soft power like TikTok and animated films, but this demonstration was all about hard power.—QH