China marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a sweeping military parade in Beijing that doubled as a display of newly unveiled weaponry and a pointed warning to the United States.

President Xi Jinping rode down Chang'an Avenue in a black limousine Wednesday, saluting formations of troops as fighter jets and helicopters filled the skies. Twenty-six helicopters traced the number "80" above Tiananmen Square, underscoring the anniversary of Japan's surrender in 1945.

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Behind the pageantry, the parade showcased what analysts say are some of China's most significant military advancements in years.

For the first time, Beijing presented its land-, sea- and air-based strategic forces

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