When the People's Liberation Army shows off its latest weaponry on October 1 in China's biggest military parade in a decade, the images of goose-stepping soldiers, fighter jets and cruise missiles will provoke debate around the globe.
Although the equipment is unlikely to include any huge surprises, Beijing's bombastic display of its growing military prowess serves as another reminder that the world's most populous country is seeking its place as a great nation not only in economic but also in political and military terms.
When describing its foreign policy and military strategy, China continues to claim that it has purely peaceful intentions and that it is modernising and expanding its military for defensive purposes only.