China's Gala Show of Strength

Military Rolls Out Latest Hardware for 60th Anniversary of Revolution

BEIJING, Oct. 1 -- China's military brought its latest weaponry to the National Day parade through Tiananmen Square on Thursday, including medium- and long-range missiles and armored vehicles, alongside goose-stepping troops.

President Hu Jintao, standing up in the sunroof of a Chinese-made Red Flag automobile, reviewed the thousands of troops who stood at attention in front of the hotels, government buildings and new shopping plazas along Beijing's Changan Avenue.

Afterward, speaking from the top of the gate to the Forbidden City, Hu dusted off some of the Communist Party's well-worn slogans, reasserting the virtues of "socialism with Chinese characteristics," openness, unity, prosperity, and the continued leadership of the Communist Party.

Thick smog that had blanketed the city Wednesday cleared, and fighter jets, helicopters and China's first midair refueling planes flew over the center of the city.

The missiles and equipment are the latest manifestations of China's more than 10-year-old effort to modernize its military, prompted in part by a confrontation with the United States in 1996 after Washington sent aircraft carriers to protect Taiwan from Chinese missile threats. Ahead of Thursday's parade, U.S. analysts said they were most concerned about infantry combat vehicles, long-range missiles, and missiles that might be aimed at aircraft carriers.

Still, many foreign military analysts anticipated few, if any, surprises Thursday because most of the equipment had been seen at weapons fairs or in satellite photos, including some available through Google, taken during months of rehearsals for the celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the China's Communist Revolution.

"They've had a couple of practice runs, and it seems that most of what will be in the parade we've seen already," said Richard D. Fisher Jr., a senior fellow on Asian military affairs at the International Assessment and Strategy Center. On Thursday, he said, there were "no surprises."

"Much or most of what will be on display will be same or upgraded models or variations of stuff that was on display 10 years ago," said Dennis J. Blasko, an independent analyst who served 23 years in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence officer and foreign area officer specializing in China.

Such assessments did not deter a barrage of Chinese media coverage before the parade. On Wednesday night, Chinese state television featured stories about military formations, female fighter pilots, and rapid-reaction forces that were shown raiding buildings and buses.

The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Communist Party's victory in China's civil war also included scores of synchronized dancing performers and students waving colorful banners and props.

The official New China News Agency said a 200,000-square-foot, three-ton cloth painting titled "This Land Is So Rich and Beautiful" was to be held aloft by 2,009 armed policemen. Music was performed by 1,500 military band members, a 2,100-member adult chorus, a youth chorus of 300 and a 130-member orchestra.

There were 34 large floats from various provinces and regions and one featuring 181 foreigners under the banner "One World." Others paid tribute to the country's space program, industrial technologies and environmental awareness.