In a further sign of China's more assertive military posture, its warships were seen off the coast of Alaska for the first time on Wednesday, according to the US navy.

The sightings coincided with President Barack Obama touring the state and come ahead of Mr Xi paying an official visit to Washington this month.

The parade, which featured 12,000 high-stepping troops and 500 tanks, has unsettled China's neighbours even though Beijing insisted it was "promoting peace".

These remarks were somewhat undermined by official commentary during the hour-long parade. "Look at this missile, it can hit Hawaii," one commentator said on state TV.

Chinese soldiers stand at attention in Tiananmen Square before a military parade. Getty

China's state media also made no attempt to down-play the capability of other weapons.

The official Twitter account of state-news agency, Xinhua, posted a photo of the Dongfeng 21D taking part in the parade and referred to it as the "carrier killer".

'Designed to carry nuclear warheads'


Other posts included photos of China's intercontinental strategic missiles, which Xinhua said were "designed to carry nuclear warheads".

Beijing also showed off its J-15 fighter jets in a fly over and its medium range bombers for the first time, which can carry cruise missiles.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stands in a car to review the army during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. The spectacle involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and 200 aircraft of various types, representing what military officials say is the Chinese military's most cutting-edge technology. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Ng Han Guan

China said 84 per cent of the armaments on display during the parade were being shown to the public for the first time and all were made in China.

"The very strong message from this parade is that China is determined to narrow the military gap with the US," said Willy Lam, an expert in Chinese politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The existence of the "carrier killer" has been the subject of much speculation over the years, as the missile has the potential to reshape the strategic balance in the Western Pacific.

It is estimated to have a range of 900 to 1500 kilometres and could neutralise the US's naval advantage, which is built on the strength of its carrier groups that have allowed Washington to project power far from its shores.

Paramilitary police during the September 3 victory parade over Japanese militarism. Getty Images


The parade was attended by 30 world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and South Korea's Park Geun-hye.

Australia was represented by the Minister for Veterans Affairs Michael Ronaldson.

Nearly 1000 foreign troops from 17 countries took part in the parade including those from Russia, Pakistan and Cuba.

They witnessed Mr Xi drive along Beijing's main avenue in an open-top car reviewing the troops, while shouting "good morning comrades" and "hard working comrades".

In a brief speech before the parade, Mr Xi announced the troop cut of 300,000 for the People's Liberation Army.

It is the fourth cut in 35 years and follows reductions of one million troops in 1987 and a cut of half this amount a decade later.

According to Xinhua, the PLA has 2.3 million members. "The number will be reduced but the strength might be enhanced," said Yang Zhaohui, a political scientist at Peking University.

Mr Yang said most of the cuts would be to so called "ceremonial soldiers" rather than combat forces.


Mr White believes the Beijing parade is a further sign of China challenging US dominance in the region.

In a landmark essay five years ago, Mr White said Australia would one day have to choose between its strategic alliance with the US and its trading relationship with China.

"The more overt the rivalry between China and the US, the harder it is for Australian governments to continue walking both sides of the street," he said.

"There will be more pressure on Australia to side with Washington against China and pressure from China to remain neutral."