The message from China’s lavish military parade on Wednesday was unmistakable: Beijing has the weaponry, allies and ambition to shape a new global order — one it intends to lead. President Xi Jinping is signaling that the era of unrivaled American supremacy is ending.

There were several audiences in mind. For Washington, it was a response to ongoing trade tensions, projecting China as a responsible global actor. For Taiwan, the sophisticated military hardware on display was a reminder that while Beijing speaks of peaceful unification with the self-ruled island, force always remains an option. And for his own people, Xi cast the Communist Party as the reliable architect of the nation’s rise from impoverishment to international powerhouse, despite current economic weakness.

For countries attending, the event showcased not only China’s might but also its accelerating military modernization. Xi’s speech reinforced that, noting "the Chinese nation is a great nation that does not fear power and intimidation and is determined to stand self-reliant and strong.” Foreign dignitaries could hardly miss the subtext: Aligning with China brings the security of a power increasingly capable of backing its friends. Better to stay on Beijing’s good side.