China Victory Day Parade | China flexes its muscles at Japan! Putin and Kim to showcase ‘power’ alongside Beijing, with 26 world leaders set to attend
China’s Foreign Ministry has announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will join Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing next week to attend a military parade — marking a historic visit.
China’s Foreign Ministry has announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will attend a military parade in Beijing next week alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin — marking a historic visit. The development comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to meet Kim, who rarely travels abroad. At the same time, the White House is attempting to broker a settlement to end the war in Ukraine.
China’s “Victory Day” parade on September 3 will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s formal surrender in World War II and the end of the conflict. Beijing describes the event as a celebration of the “War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.”
However, the presence of foreign leaders has sparked diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, with Japan urging world leaders not to attend, arguing that the event carries “anti-Japanese overtones.” In response, China lodged a strong diplomatic protest, condemning Japan’s stance.
On Thursday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hong Lei announced that, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, 26 foreign leaders will attend the Victory Day celebrations, including Putin and Kim. “On September 3, China will hold a grand military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people’s victory against Japanese aggression and the global victory in the war against fascism,” Hong said.
The parade will take place in Beijing shortly after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, scheduled for August 31 and September 1 in Tianjin. Last week, Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Bin stated that 20 world leaders and the heads of 10 international organizations, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, are expected at the summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the SCO Summit in Tianjin following a two-day visit to Japan. Beijing is seeking to ensure that leaders present for the summit also take part in the Victory Day parade — a move that has angered Japan. According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, Tokyo has sent messages through its embassies urging countries to carefully consider participation, claiming that the event reflects “anti-Japanese sentiment.”
China, in turn, issued a sharp response, filing a diplomatic protest and stating that if Japan truly wishes to move past historical issues, it must acknowledge its wartime aggression, renounce militarism, pursue peaceful development, and respect the feelings of China and other victimized nations.
Leaders expected at the SCO Summit include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. From South Asia, participants will include Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.
Stay updated with International News in Hindi on Prabhasakshi