According to the military, the appearance of the JL-1, JL-3, DF-31BJ, DF-61 "is the first collective show of our land-, sea- and air-based strategic nuclear prowess". They are strategic "trump cards" that can safeguard the national sovereignty and dignity, it stated.

The PLA said the DF-5C is the newest member in the DF-5 family, which is China's first ballistic missile series with intercontinental ranges, and can strike every corner on Earth.

The large-scale debut of new strategic weapons has represented the huge progress China has made in science and technology, especially in the field of defense technology, said Yang Chengjun, a retired missile technology and nuclear strategy expert formerly with the PLA Rocket Force.

"Their appearance (at the parade) was very meaningful because China now faces a slew of big, realistic threats, ranging from foreign forces' intervention in the Taiwan question to their intimidation and provocations in the South China Sea and other hegemonic acts surrounding us, and we do need sufficient and reliable means to respond to those threats. These advanced weapons should act as a reminder to the world that with their strength, China is able to handle whatever challenges our adversaries will pose in front of us," the veteran researcher said.