BEIJING, Aug 28: China’s military parade on September 3 will commemorate its victory against Japanese aggression in WWII, marking the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War
The event has sparked a diplomatic dispute between Japan and China, with Tokyo urging world leaders to avoid attending due to its “anti-Japanese overtones.”
Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei announced that 26 foreign leaders, including Putin and Kim Jong Un, will attend the parade at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will also attend the parade.
The parade is being held soon after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which is scheduled for August 31 and September 1 in Tianjin city.
China is this year’s rotating chair of the 10-member bloc, which includes Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.
Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that Japan has conveyed to other nations through its embassies abroad that China’s commemorative events have “anti-Japanese overtones” and that the participation of leaders should be carefully considered.
The Chinese foreign ministry has reacted angrily to Japan’s calls to leaders by lodging a diplomatic protest with Tokyo.
The 70-minute parade will showcase a series of new-generation armaments, unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, and advanced missiles, including hypersonic ones.
The display will demonstrate China’s strategic deterrence capability and the country’s ability to safeguard national sovereignty, security, development interests, and uphold world peace. (PTI)
