Certain equipment showcased in the parade would also be used should the US intervene in combat in the Taiwan Strait, a scenario widely anticipated to involve American aircraft carriers, especially if deployed in the western Pacific Ocean.
The latest anti-ship missile systems displayed on Wednesday included the YJ-15, YJ-19 and YJ-20.
Believed to utilise ramjet propulsion, these systems are specifically engineered for high-speed combat missions and designed to deliver rapid strikes against enemy vessels.
The YJ-20, in particular, is considered a “carrier killer” of the next generation, capable of targeting both maritime and land-based objectives simultaneously.
Another crucial weapon in a possible Taiwan conflict would be the DF-26D anti-ship ballistic missile, which is reported to carry both nuclear and conventional warheads and have a range of 5,000km.
It has been called the “Guam killer” for its ability to target US military bases on the American territory and Washington’s naval assets in the western Pacific.
In October, China’s two aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong, conducted joint exercises in the western Pacific as part of its strategy to deter the US from taking military action in the region.
Meanwhile, the nation’s third carrier, the Fujian, is expected to enter service this year.
On Wednesday, China showcased its latest carrier-based aircraft, which are tailored for the Fujian’s electromagnetic launch system, including the J-15T and J-15DT.
State media also stressed the importance of the stealth, carrier-based J-35 fighter jet in defending the “far seas”.
This article was first published on SCMP.
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