A devastating nuclear weapon supposedly capable of reaching the US within 30 minutes was unveiled at a Chinese military parade.
The Dongfeng-41 nuke was spotted behind President Xi Jinping as he drove through the rally in central Beijing, inspecting an array of armaments and troops.
The rocket reportedly travels at 7,600 miles-per-hour and has a range of up to 15,000 kilometres, more than any other nuclear missile in the world.
It is also said the weapon carries up to 10 separate warheads, which can hit different targets.
Nuclear disarmament campaigner John Hallam described the missile as the 'ultimate doomsday weapon', according to news.com.au.
China celebrated seven decades of Communist Party rule today with a massive display of military power.
President Xi Jinping pledged peaceful development but said the armed forces would defend China's sovereignty.
The event is the country's most important of the year as China looks to project an image of confidence in the face of mounting challenges.
Chinese authorities have been wrestling with how to respond to nearly four months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong, while also dealing with an economy-sapping trade war with the United States.
Mr Jinping, dressed in a slate grey "Mao" suit and accompanied by his predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, said China will pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up.
The leader added that the country's military should resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, and firmly uphold world peace.
"No force can ever shake the status of China, or stop the Chinese people and nation from marching forward," he added.
China must maintain lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, promote the peaceful development of relations with self-ruled Taiwan and "continue to strive for the motherland's complete reunification", he added.
Mr Jinping, whose military modernisation programme has rattled nerves around the region, then descended to the street and inspected row upon row of military hardware and immaculately presented troops.
Riding past in a black limousine, Mr Jinping bellowed; "Hello comrades, hard-working comrades!"
Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China from the Gate of Heavenly Peace on this day in 1949.
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