With Abe's statement onthe 70th anniversary of World War II in the books, those interested inAsia's "history wars" are turning their focus to the next big event:China's commemoration of the anniversary of the end of the war, whichfalls on September 3. The highlight of those celebrations will be amajor military parade in Beijing, the first time China has held such aparade to celebrate the end of the war.
Ever since China's Ministry of Defense announced that the paradewould be an international one, with soldiers from other countriesinvited to participate, the world has wondered which countries will takepart. Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9 featured troopsfrom Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan, India, Mongolia, and Serbia. China will be hoping to atleast match that tally. China's Ministry of Defense confirmed in Junethat Russia and Mongolia would be sending troops to take part in China's parade.
On August 17, China Military Online reported thatKazakh and Russian troops are headed for Beijing, where they will"participate in the joint training for China's V-Day military parade onSeptember 3." Kazakhstan reportedly sent a 100-member honor guard,representing "the three services of Kazakhstan's armed forces," toparticipate. Russia, meanwhile, sent 85 troops from its 154thPreobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment.
China Daily said that troops from from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan arrived in Beijing on August 16, and that Mongolia plans to send 75 soldiers to take part in the parade.
Meanwhile, India Today reported thatChina had asked India to send 75 troops to take part in the parade, butthat New Delhi was concerned about sending the wrong message to Japan.The Deccan Herald reported thatIndia was leaning toward not sending any troops, and sending alower-level delegation to China than it had to Moscow's parade on May 9.
China Daily also reported that the leaders of ShanghaiCooperation Organization member states — Kazakh President NursultanNazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Russian PresidentVladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and Uzbek PresidentIslam Karimov will attend the parade. Other leaders, including SouthKorean President Park Geun-hye, remain undecided. There are reports that the United States has pressured Park and other allies not to attend.
South Korea is reportedly also considering sending an honor guard to march in the parade.
From The Diplomat, by Shannon Tiezi
From The Diplomat, by Shannon Tiezi
