However, experts said the PLA's marching skills might exceed actual fighting ability.

Beijing has boasted that the nuclear- capable missiles, fighter jets, aerial drones and other advanced arms on display mark a "quantum leap" made possible thanks to a long-running campaign to upgrade the once-backward PLA.

Many experts focused on the Dongfeng 21C missile, which may force US aircraft carriers to keep a greater distance if it is successfully developed into an anti-ship ballistic missile.

That would make it harder for Washington to come to Taiwan's aid in the event of a conflict.

"The parade is a clear signal to Taiwan. The variety and quality of new arms on display has to be intimidating to Taiwan military officials," Wendell Minnick, Asia bureau chief for Defense News, said from Taipei.

Official media gushed after the parade about the "cutting-edge" arms that have caused concern overseas about Beijing's military intentions, but analysts noted it has far to go before it could truly project military power abroad.

"We can make absolutely no conclusions about the actual tactical abilities of the troops or the capabilities of the equipment from what we have seen," said Dennis Blasko, a former US military attache to China.

Blasko noted one apparent advancement - the intercontinental ballistic missiles which Xinhua described as a military "trump card" are now on mobile launchers.

"The key is its mobility, thus improving its survivability and insuring a true second-strike capability," he said.

But aside from hardware such as the Jian-10 fighter jet, much of what was on show represented upgrades or variations on weapons seen in the 50th anniversary parade in 1999.

However, the array of homegrown systems showed China is making clear progress in moving away from its long- term reliance on Russian arms.

And the mix of ground, naval and air force components shows the PLA - which encompasses all those branches - is growing more diverse.

Analysts said China has much to do before it comes close to challenging US power.

"Despite rapid strides in military modernization, China still has a lot of catching up to do," said Minxin Pei, a China scholar at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"Most of its neighbors, including Japan, India, South Korea, and Taiwan, have more advanced and better-trained air forces and navies than it does," he said in a research note.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS