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Beijing military parade a 'bikini show' of China's technology but sensitive parts were hidden, expert says

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Wheeled armored assault vehicles attend the military parade on Thursday in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
Stephen Chenin Beijing

China’s military parade last week was a show of force but also something of a “bikini show,” revealing much of China’s new military might and hardware while leaving the most sensitive parts concealed, according to military experts in the country.

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The parade in Beijing last Thursday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of world war two saw many weapons put on show, even as President Xi Jinping vowed to cut the size of the nation’s armed forces by 300,000 troops.

The decision to roll out weapons ranging from anti-aircraft-carrier missiles to nuclear warheads was designed to "impress enemies" while "leaving some room for imagination”, the state-backed Global Times daily quoted an unnamed military source as saying on Thursday. 

“The authorities were as explicit about [China’s military arsenal] as they could be at this time,” a Chinese military expert told the South China Morning Post, on request of anonymity.

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“China has for years been developing some advanced military technology, but it shied away from putting this on show in Tiananmen Square [during the parade],” the person said. 

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