On May 9th every year, the Russian Federation holds a military parade at Moscow’s Red Square. Chinese leaders used to attend similar activities. However, this year Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to attend Russia’s commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II and 200 Chinese military men will also join the march. These plans are, according to some Russians, beyond Russian expectation. International media have also given much attention. Then what is the special significance of such commemorations?
China has made the decision primarily to safeguard its national interests and showcase its diplomatic policies and concepts. As is known to all, Japan has since 2013 taken a series of unilateral actions with regard to the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the vain hope to unlawfully take the islands into its possession. Political figures in Japan have repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine in total disregard of protests of the Chinese government and strong opposition of the Chinese people. They deny Japan’s war crimes against the Chinese people and refuse to apologize. These have lead to worsening of China-Japan relations since 2013 and are an important contributing factor to persistent tension in the East Asian security situation.
Meanwhile, Japan has also attempted to break the constraints of its post-war pacifist constitution to strengthen its military power. The potential of militarist revival of Japan has become a factor leading to deteriorating external security environment in Asia. In this connection, through commemorating the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II, the Chinese government seeks to expose the catastrophic fascism inflicted upon the world’s people, including Chinese, condemn war crimes, alert the international community of the danger of forces against post-war order and peace arrangement, and safeguard China’s national interest and world peace and stability. With the same intention, China will also hold commemorations on September 3rd, marking the Victory Day of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
The presence of the Chinese President at the commemoration in Moscow and of some Chinese troops in the military parade will also demonstrate to the world that China was not only a victim of fascist aggression, but also a victor in World War II, and that China has made huge sacrifices as well as contributions to the final victory of mankind over fascism.
The Chinese government wishes that the world, including the U.S., would learn from the history, seriously take stock of the lessons of World War II, and treasure the post-war peace arrangement. Many people in China believe that strengthening U.S.-Japan military alliance is as dangerous as trying to avoid war by appeasing Japan before December 7th 1941, when the Pacific War broke out. The American move to strengthen and expand military alliance with Japan to facilitate the shifting of its global strategic gravity center to the East may well lead to international turbulence or even new wars, thus undermining the interests of Asian countries and the American people.
The presence of the Chinese President at the Russian military parade might have an impact on the China-U.S.-Russia triangular relationship. Since March 2014, Russia has been under rounds of joint Western sanctions. It has been in a difficult international situation, being diplomatically isolated and condemned by the U.S. and most European countries. The Obama administration on the one hand wants to punish what they describe as Russian aggression, and on the other hand does not wish to change its set policy of shifting the strategic gravity eastward with increased strategic competition with China as a primary task. But for China, it holds an independent foreign policy for peace and Xi’s presence in Moscow is a support to Putin in commemorating the World War II and in strengthening China-Russia relations.
Additionally, the upcoming visit of the Chinese President to Moscow will give a good opportunity to strengthen and expand China-Russia economic cooperation. Obviously both the Silk Road economic belt and the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor programs will need Russian support and coordination. The Xi Jinping-Putin meeting will surely tap the huge potentials for bilateral cooperation in various fields.
