Part 10/16:
Brandon Wiker, senior national security editor at the National Interest, analyzed the parade’s significance. He highlighted that China omitted older or Russian-sourced hardware, signaling a shift towards indigenous innovation. The display included hypersonic missiles, directed energy weapons, and drones capable of complex operations. These systems, particularly the hypersonic weapons and directed energy systems, pose serious strategic challenges to U.S. military dominance, as America currently lacks effective defenses against such sophisticated weaponry.