Part 8/18:
For US military planners and policymakers, this parade underscores a shifting balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. The presence of hypersonic missiles, autonomous systems, and electronic warfare platforms suggests that the Pacific is no longer a guaranteed US domain. The challenge now is to develop countermeasures and strengthen alliances to meet this emerging threat.
However, the true operational efficacy of many of these weapons remains to be seen. The military prowess displayed may serve more as propaganda than as a reflection of battlefield capability—yet even as a show, it communicates a clear intent: China is prepared for a future conflict and is eager to demonstrate that it can challenge US dominance in the region.