The US President was speaking at a veteran’s event in Virginia before China flexed its muscles with a sabre-rattling display of its growing military might in a parade to celebrate 70 years of Communist rule. He said: “America’s armed forces are more powerful than ever and growing even stronger. We have the newest equipment and we also have equipment that we keep under wraps that nobody’s ever even heard of.”
We have equipment that we keep under wraps that nobody’s ever even heard of
Earlier, China unveiled its fearsome Dongfeng 41 – a long-range nuclear-armed missile that could reach the US in 30 minutes – as it sent out a clear signal it was close to matching Washington and other powers in arms technology.
Military analysts say the DF-41, flying at 25 times the speed of sound, might be able to reach the US in 30 minutes with up to 10 warheads for separate targets – a technology known as MIRV, or multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles.
The People’s Liberation Army, the world’s biggest military with two million men and women in uniform and the second-highest annual spending after the US, is also developing fighter planes, the first Chinese-built aircraft carrier and nuclear-powered submarines.
Donald Trump warned of America’s military might (Image: GETTY)
Last week it launched a new amphibious assault carrier in a move which defence analysts believe transformed the People’s Liberation Army Navy the minute it entered the water.
The warship allows marines to capture beaches and land supplies on enemy territory and will operate alongside an increasingly powerful fleet of aircraft carriers, air defence destroyers and underwater drones.
Siemon Wezeman of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said: “There are quite a lot of observers, including the US military, who say, ‘This is getting close to what we do,’ and they are starting to worry.”
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China has unveiled its deadly Dongfeng-41 missile (Image: GETTY)
China has held a massive parade to showcase its military might (Image: GETTY)
Chinese President Xi, standing alongside his predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, told a handpicked crowd at Tiananmen Square the military should resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests and firmly uphold world peace.
In comments carried live on state television, he said: “No force can ever shake the status of China, or stop the Chinese people and nation from marching forward.”
Relations between the two superpowers remain strained with the disputed waters of the South China Sea a major source of the simmering tension.
An underwater drone was on display in Tiananmen Square (Image: GETTY)
David Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told Congress Washington had deep concerns about China’s “provocative” actions against oil and gas activities in the region.
He said: “These actions undermine peace and stability in the region, and call into question Beijing’s commitment to the peaceful solution of maritime disputes.”
A US think-tank has warned China is building new military facilities on disputed islands in the South China Sea.
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The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, part of Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said new satellite images revealed missile shelters and radar and communications facilities were under construction on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi Reefs in the Spratly Islands.
Washington has criticised China’s build-up of military facilities on the artificial islands and fears they could be used to restrict free movement along the important South China Sea trade route.
A US Navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef last month in a so-called freedom of navigation operation.
Beijing and Washington are often at loggerheads over the presence of US vessels in the disputed territory.
The US insists it has the right to sail in South China Sea waters under freedom of navigation protocols.
China accuses the US of intimidation and being deliberately provocative and rejects allegations it is militarising the sea, which also is claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.