• China is preparing to unveil its new YJ-17 hypersonic anti-ship missile at a military parade in Beijing.
• The weapon is expected to reach Mach 8 speeds, with a range of 750 miles targeting distant naval forces.
• The show of force comes amid Xi Jinping’s push to deepen ties with Russia and North Korea against the U.S.

BEIJING, China (TDR) — China is preparing to showcase its military might with the unveiling of a new hypersonic missile designed to target and destroy warships, marking a fresh challenge to U.S. naval supremacy in the Pacific.

The New YJ-17 Hypersonic Missile

Satellite images show the staging of drones, tanks, and missiles outside Beijing ahead of Wednesday’s military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Among them is the YJ-17, a ship-destroying hypersonic missile shrouded in secrecy. Military experts expect the weapon to reach speeds of up to Mach 8 — more than 6,000 miles per hour — with a strike range of 750 miles.

Defense analysts say the YJ-17 could carry warheads weighing between 600 and 1,100 pounds, making it capable of piercing the armor of U.S. and allied warships. The missile’s development underscores Beijing’s intent to signal that Western powers should think twice before intervening in any regional conflict, particularly over Taiwan.

A Parade of Power

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The grand military parade in Tiananmen Square will feature tens of thousands of soldiers and veterans, with troops from dozens of brigades marching in formation. Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote address, flanked by honored guests Vladimir Putin of Russia and Kim Jong-un of North Korea. Their attendance is a potent symbol of China’s tightening alignment with Moscow and Pyongyang amid growing rifts with Washington.

Wu Zeke, one of the parade’s organizers, emphasized that much of the equipment on display has never been shown publicly. “The weapons and equipment on display this time were all selected from major battle equipment that is domestically produced and is currently in service, with a large proportion being new types of equipment making their debut,” Wu said.

Strategic Implications

According to Tianran Xu, a senior analyst at Open Nuclear Network, the YJ-17 is part of a broader effort to undermine U.S. naval defenses in the Pacific. “These weapons increase the chances of defeating shipborne air-defense systems and are clearly developed with the aim to suppress the U.S. Navy in the Western Pacific,” Xu told Bloomberg.

Other advanced systems expected to be unveiled include the YJ-15 air-launched missile, the YJ-19 and YJ-20 hypersonic models, as well as new fighter jets, tanks, and drones. Analysts say Beijing’s comprehensive missile arsenal — spanning air, sea, and land-launched platforms — is unparalleled.

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“Few countries have developed so many anti-ship missiles that cover all imaginable categories,” Xu added.

Message to the West

The unveiling of the YJ-17 is not just a demonstration of technical prowess but a calculated warning. Beijing’s emphasis on hypersonic weapons reflects its intent to sidestep traditional U.S. systems like the Patriot missile defense network. By presenting these capabilities alongside Putin and Kim, Xi Jinping is amplifying the message: China is not alone in challenging American influence.

The timing is also critical. The White House has suggested President Donald Trump may travel to the region in October for talks with Xi. If that meeting occurs, it will take place against a backdrop of Chinese military assertiveness, renewed tariff negotiations, and the war in Ukraine.

Will this new generation of hypersonic missiles tilt the balance of power in the Pacific, or trigger an even deeper arms race?

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