Beijing, Aug 28 (PTI) - In a significant diplomatic event, 26 foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, are set to attend China's military parade on September 3. This parade commemorates China's victory against Japanese forces during World War II. The event, which China refers to as the “war of resistance against Japanese aggression in World War II,” has sparked tension between Beijing and Tokyo. Japan has urged other countries to refrain from participating, citing the parade's "anti-Japanese overtones." China retaliated by lodging a formal diplomatic protest against Japan's request.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited the leaders, and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei officially announced their attendance. Among those expected to attend from the subcontinent are Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, and Maldives’ President Mohamed Muizzu.
“China will stage a massive military parade on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War,” Hong said.
This parade happens shortly after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, planned for August 31 and September 1 in Tianjin. China is currently the rotating chair of the 10-member SCO bloc, which counts Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus among its members.
Last week, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin mentioned that the SCO summit will see attendance from 20 world leaders and 10 heads of international organizations, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is expected to visit Tianjin for the SCO summit following a two-day visit to Japan. Japan, however, is displeased with China's efforts to bring leaders from the SCO summit to their parade. Japanese agency Kyodo has reported that Japan has communicated its concerns to other nations, urging them to reconsider their participation due to the “anti-Japanese overtones” of the events.
In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has expressed its dissatisfaction with Japan's actions. "If Japan truly wants to move past historical issues, it should confront its history of aggression honestly and respect the sentiments of people from China and other affected countries," stated Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.
Additionally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh are also on the list of leaders slated to attend after participating in the SCO Plus summit.
The 70-minute parade, to be reviewed by Xi at Tiananmen Square, is described as the largest ever by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). According to official media reports, it will display new-generation armaments, including fourth-generation tanks and aircraft, unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, and advanced missiles such as hypersonic ones. Wu Zeke, a senior officer from the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), highlighted that all armaments showcased are domestically produced and actively deployed.
Included in the display will be directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, hypersonic and air defense anti-missile equipment, and strategic missiles, illustrating China's strategic deterrence capabilities. With a focus on informatisation and intelligence, Wu stated the arsenal demonstrates the Chinese armed forces' adaptation to technological advancements and modern warfare's evolution, while showcasing their ability to secure national sovereignty, security, developmental interests, and world peace.
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