Xi made the surprise announcement at the opening of a military parade marking 70 years since the end of World War Two.

Xi was joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of several other nations with close ties to China, including Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes by the worldwide Criminal Court. “China will always uphold the path of peaceful development”.

He also said Beijing would reduce its 2.3 million strong military by 13 percent.

President Mamnoon Hussain is representing Pakistan in the event. Indeed, at least some parts of this concept were somewhat aspirational initially, as China lacked numerous required military capabilities to fully support it. However, China’s military hardware is now rapidly catching up with the concept of “integrated strategic deterrence”. The US sent only its ambassador to observe.

“But then he added: ‘We are not huge fans of military parades, showing off shining new aggressive equipment, in general'”.

In a speech at the parade, Xi lauded his country as a major power and a force for world peace.

China usually holds lavish military parades only every 10 years to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Communist People’s Republic in 1949.

The ceremony was the first large-scale national event under Xi.

China has repeatedly insisted the parade was not aimed at any particular country, including Japan, which it regularly criticises for what it says is insufficient contrition over wartime atrocities.

While a hit at home, such sentiments heighten fears overseas about China’s intended uses of its newfound power, frustrating Beijing’s attempts to market itself as a responsible member of worldwide society committed to the common good.

China is deploying a more credible nuclear deterrent composed of improved silo-based ICBMs, more survivable road mobile ICBMs and nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines. People’s Liberation Army publications also discuss higher-intensity deterrence actions that China could carry out to deter USA intervention in a crisis or to reduce the likelihood of further escalation, such as raising the readiness level of China’s nuclear or conventional missile force units, conducting missile launch exercises, or even carrying out information attacks or limited firepower strikes as a warning.

In Tokyo, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said it was regrettable that there was no mention of any China-Japan reconciliation in Xi’s speech.

Resistance to Japan remains a core component of the Chinese ruling party’s foundational myth and is used as a key source of legitimacy in the absence of a popular mandate derived from free elections. He said he thinks he’s getting a warm reception in China because “the Chinese people have long memories”.