China is planning a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of what is known here as the “anti-fascist war”, sending a key message to Japan and the US about its growing clout.
According to the official account at the People's Daily's social media platform WeChat, "the parade is intended to deter Japan by displaying China's military might. The country will never allow Japan to challenge the post-war order concerning China's interests."
Tensions between Japan and China over disputed islands in the East China Sea and Tokyo’s perceived failure to properly atone for second World War atrocities have been the defining Asian conflict of the past few years.
China’s growing economic power has been matched by a desire to have a more defining role in regional affairs – political, economic and, increasingly, military. China is particularly irked by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s visits to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honours 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including war criminals.
Both countries claim an archipelago, known as the Senkakus in Japan, to whom they officially belong, and the Diaoyus in China, which contests Japan’s ownership. While the countries are major trading partners, political tensions are proving bad for business between the world’s second- and third-largest economies.
The parade is aimed to “enhance Chinese people’s sense of pride and confidence by showing off the Chinese army’s morale and armaments”. It is the first military parade not to take place on National Day. The last big parade in Beijing was on National Day in 2009, to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, a huge display of China’s burgeoning military might. Troops have begun training in the suburbs of Beijing.
China has bought a lot more weaponry since then, even adding an aircraft carrier to its arsenal – which is sure to be prominently displayed on giant video-screens at the event. It is also the first such parade since President Xi Jinping took office in 2013. As well as being general secretary of the Communist Party and head of government, Xi is chief of the Central Military Commission.
Russian president Vladimir Putin is due to visit Beijing and attend the military parade. Mr Xi and Mr Putin have been building closer links
The People's Daily also says the parade "aims to tell corrupt officials that the army, together with the party's disciplinary inspections and political and legal systems, is in the hands of the party and the people".
China has yet to formally announce the parade but the foreign ministry said the country was planning commemoration events.
