China

China's WW2 Military Parade to Include Russia, Mongolia - and Taiwan

China divulged new details about its September 3 military parade this week.

China unveiled new details this week regarding its September 3 military parade, which will take place as part of China’s commemoration of the end of World War II. It will be the first time a parade is held to correspond with the anniversary of Japan’s surrender. Details emerged at two recent press conferences – a presser specifically dedicated to the parade held by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday, and a regular monthly briefing at China’s Ministry of National Defense on Thursday.

Among the details was confirmation that China would invite foreign troops to participate in the parade. Russia did the same at its Victory Day parade in May; Chinese troops took part along with troops from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Mongolia, and Serbia. China wants its parade to have a similar international flair. “It’s the first time to invite the foreign troops to participate. We hope through this year’s military parade… China and the world can be connected and the message of peace and development can be sent,” one of the parade’s organizers, Qu Rui, said.

Chinese officials have kept news about which exact countries have been invited to participate close to the vest. Defense ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun did confirm on Thursday that both Russia and Mongolia, at least, would send troops to participate in the parade. Chinese officials previously said that they also plan to invite a number of world leaders, including those from the combatant countries, to attend.

China has also invited veterans from the Kuomintang (KMT), which governed the country during the war, to participate in the parade. “KMT troops played an important role in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression,” Qu said at the Tuesday press conference. A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs...