Armada in the South China Sea has 48 ships, subs and 76 aircraft

The Navy carried out its largest-ever parade on Thursday morning in the South China Sea, according to the military. The massive display was reviewed by President Xi Jinping.

The spectacular parade, involving more than 10,000 Navy personnel, was held to mark the achievements of the People's Liberation Army Navy over the past several years and to strengthen the armed forces' determination to build a strong country and a worldclass military.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviewed the warships and aircraft from onboard the CNS Changsha destroyer in waters off Hainan province's southern coast. He was accompanied by all other members of the Central Military Commission.