Demonstrative Military Parade

For the first time of the post-war history, China held a military parade in Tiananmen Square as an event in the victory day against Japan on Thursday. While President Xi Jinping stressed China’s responsibility for peace in Asian region, with announcement of reducing troops, Chinese Force uncovered its modern equipments for offensive military operations in the parade. Foreign nations realized that anti-access and area denial against United States was the “dream” China seeking.

Xi announced that he would reduce number of troops of Chinese Force from 2.3 million to 2 million. “China will forever not seek hegemony, expansion, or coerce any other nations tragic experience we had,” appealed Xi in his speech. He appeared as if ignoring Chinese advance in South China Sea, where China was unilaterally building facilities to develop small islands.

To Japan, Xi was critical with sarcasm. “Denying history of invasion is toying history and insult against conscience of human being. It must lose credibility of people in the world,” told Xi. Although China had softened its attitude to Shinzo Abe administration of Japan after seventieth anniversary statement last month, Xi’s address showed remaining frustration against Japan.

But no one believes absence of hegemony in China’s mind. In the military parade, Chinese Force exhibited new inter-continental ballistic missiles, which could strike U.S. mainland. New Chinese ICBM, named Dongfeng 5B, is capable to strike a target 12 thousand kilometers away. A formation of Jian 15, brand-new fighter jet deployed on China’s first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, flew above Tiananmen Square exhausting colorful smoke.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, firmly stood by Xi during the ceremony, demonstrating cooperative relationship between the two nations. Taking the opportunity, both leaders had a meeting, in which they shared common recognition on history of World War II and promised stronger tie as the winners of war. According to Asahi Shimbun, President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, observed the parade beside Xi, but did not stand up and kept on wearing sunglasses. She was careful on negative image that she applauded Chinese expanding military power.

Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, criticized Chinese government in his press conference on Thursday. “It was regretful that we could not see an element we wanted in Xi’s speech, which would not to be anti-Japanese, but including an element of reconciliation,” said Suga. But, isolative standpoint of Japan revealed its lack of influential power among the world ruled by war-winners.