Military march will be held in name of peace
Print Edition
FOREIGN troops will be invited to take part in a military parade on September 3 in Beijing to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a top Chinese official said yesterday.
President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will speak at the event, Wang Shiming, deputy head of the CPC Central Committee publicity department, told a press conference.
The parade, which will pass through Tian’anmen Square, will feature some of the country’s latest weaponry, he said.
Xi will also present medals to veterans of the war and their representatives, and to the families of deceased military officers, Wang said.
“The day has finally come,” said Sun Chunlong, head of the Shenzhen Longyue Charity Foundation, an organization that represents war veterans.
“As soldiers who risked their lives fighting for national integrity, they have long hoped for such an honor,” he said, adding that he had earlier presented a list of 7,000 veterans, most of whom are over 90, to the country’s military authorities.
“Almost 10 veterans pass away every day. So for many of them, this year might be the last anniversary they see,” he said.
September will be the first time China has held a parade to commemorate victory in the eight-year anti-Japanese war, Major-General Qu Rui of the parade steering group, told the press conference.
“Active units of heroic and model Chinese troops, including the Eighth Route Army, New Fourth Army, Northeast China Anti-Japanese United Forces and South China Guerrillas, will march in the parade,” said Qu, who is deputy chief of operations with the People’s Liberation Army general staff headquarters.
Troops will come from the navy, air force, second artillery force, armed police, and units under the direct command of the PLA general headquarters and departments, he said.
“We have issued invitations and foreign troops who wish to participate are welcome to march in the parade,” Qu said.
“It’s the first time we have invited foreign troops to participate. We hope through this year’s military parade, history and the future can be connected, China and the world can be connected and the message of peace and development can be sent out,” he said.
“The invitation of foreign militaries shows the wish of China to safeguard world peace with people all over the world,” he said.
Japan signed its formal surrender on September 2, 1945, and China celebrated its victory the following day.
Four years later, Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek were defeated in a civil war by the Communist Party of China and fled to Taiwan.
Some KMT veterans will take part in the parade, Qu said, adding that they played an important role in the war.
Qu said representatives of veterans and civilians will also take part in the parade, to “show our respect for veterans, civilians and martyrs alike.”
Yu Pei, a historian from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said it was significant that some KMT veterans will join in the parade.
“(Their) inclusion ... demonstrates the CPC’s respect for and safeguarding of history. It recognizes the contribution of the KMT to victory,” he said.
Qu said that most of the equipment and armaments to be used in the parade is domestically produced and in active service.
A three-month training program for all parade troops is already under way in Beijing, he said.
“The aim of the parade is to show China’s determination to follow the path of peaceful development, defend world peace and national sovereignty, security and development interests, demonstrating the great sacrifices and contribution to World War II by Chinese people, and to display our army’s latest achievements in building a modern defense force,” Qu said.
Apart from the military parade, an array of other activities will commemorate the anniversary, including seminars on the war and a national memorial ceremony for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.
Last month, China’s government announced a national holiday to be held on September 3 to celebrate the victory.
Also at yesterday’s briefing, Wang thanked other nations for their “precious support” in China’s war against Japanese aggression.
The Soviet Union, United States, United Kingdom and France all supported China, he said.
The Soviet Union was the first to come to China’s aid, and “the actions of Soviet troops in northeast China accelerated the defeat of the invaders,” Wang said.
The United States also provided great support, with the UK and France offering economic aid and military cooperation, he said.
Wang also thanked a number of individuals, including American journalist Agnes Smedley and Canadian doctor Henry Norman Bethune.
“Chinese people will forever remember the precious contribution of people from many countries,” he said.
Wang also spoke about the importance of China’s role in World War II.
“The historical facts are that the Chinese people’s war against Japanese aggression was an important part of the world anti-fascist war and (China) played a significant role as the major oriental battlefield,” he said.
Chinese forces killed more than 1.5 million Japanese troop, but also paid a great price, losing more than 35 million military and civilian lives, he said.
According to Yin Zhuo, director of an expert consultation committee of the PLA Navy: “China’s position in the Asian theater and the Asian theater’s position in World War II should be understood, recognized and remembered by the international community.”
Some countries have belittled the CPC’s role in fighting Japanese Fascists through guerrilla wars, he claimed.
It is hoped that Western countries shelve their differences and promote a diversified international society that features exchange and integration, just like in World War II, he said.
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