Introduction
By showcasing missiles, tanks, and fighter jets in grand parades, the CCP seeks to project the illusion of a “rising power.” Yet these flashy demonstrations of force do not intimidate opponents. Instead, they trigger stronger responses from the United States and its democratic allies, accelerating joint defense measures and military buildups. What Beijing intends as “deterrence” ultimately backfires—fueling containment on all sides.
Steel Illusion: The Parade Is Only a Show of Force
At every parade, Dongfeng missiles, J-20 stealth fighters, drones, and new armored vehicles roll by as symbols of invincibility. But much of it is theater. Corruption scandals within the Rocket Force—including purged generals and revelations of defective missile components linked to graft—prove that the “arsenal of power” is riddled with flaws. The parade is a stage show, not a display of reliable combat capability.
U.S. Countermoves: Fortifying the Indo-Pacific
Each time Beijing flexes its muscles, Washington responds with stronger action:
- In 2023, the U.S. and the Philippines held their largest-ever “Balikatan” joint exercise, involving over 17,000 troops and live-fire drills in the South China Sea.
- In 2024, the U.S. gained access to four additional military bases in the Philippines, positioned close to key South China Sea flashpoints.
- On Guam, construction of the “Aegis Ashore” missile defense system accelerated, explicitly designed to counter PLA missile threats.
The louder China’s parade drums beat, the tighter America’s containment becomes.
Allied Response: Democracies Upgrade Their Armories
China’s parades have directly spurred allied defense buildups:
- Japan’s 2023 National Security Strategy doubled defense spending to 2% of GDP—the highest since WWII—and included the purchase of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles, giving Tokyo long-range strike capabilities.
- Australia deepened its AUKUS pact with the U.S. and U.K., securing nuclear-powered submarine technology and investing in hypersonic weapons.
- NATO in 2022 named China a “systemic challenge” for the first time, pledging to expand cooperation with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
- India stepped up naval cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, joining the 2023 Malabar Exercise with carrier strike groups and submarines aimed at countering China’s reach in the Indian Ocean.
Europe Responds: Cross-Continental Pushback Against Beijing
Even Europe has been galvanized by China’s saber-rattling:
- In 2021, the U.K. deployed the HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group to the South China Sea, signaling its entry into Indo-Pacific security.
- Germany and France have since sent warships through the region, openly challenging Beijing’s territorial claims.
- The European Parliament has repeatedly passed resolutions condemning Chinese military expansion and urging stronger security ties with Taiwan.
A Vicious Cycle: Failed Deterrence Becomes a Trigger for Containment
What Beijing envisions as “deterrence” only produces the opposite effect. Its parades push neighbors and global democracies to accelerate defense preparations, worsening China’s own security dilemma. This cycle of “parade → countermeasure → bigger parade → stronger countermeasure” isolates China further, trapping it in its own spiral of provocation and encirclement.
Conclusion: Parades Are a Stage for Self-Defeat
The CCP’s parades may look powerful, but they only drive the U.S. and its democratic allies closer together. From Washington to Tokyo, Canberra to Brussels, the response is the same: strengthen defenses, tighten alliances, and push back harder. What Beijing imagines as “a show of deterrence” is nothing more than political theater—an act of self-defeat on the world stage.