Xi projects confidence at Beijing parade
It’s parade day in Beijing!
On Wednesday, China held a huge military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the ending of the “Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression” and “World Anti-Fascist War,” i.e., what most of the rest of the world refers to as World War II.
It was a big deal: Huge sections of central Beijing were closed down to clear a path for the parade and 26 heads of state or government, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
Amidst the pageantry, Xi Jinping mounted the Tiananmen rostrum and gave a speech marking the occasion (Xinhua):
- “The resistance war, arduous and great, marks China's first complete victory against good and foreign aggression in modern times.”
- “Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization…with immense sacrifice in the war.”
Xi said that the world once again stood at a crossroads:
- “Today, humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games.”
- “Only when nations…treat each other as equals, live in harmony and mutually support one another can common security be safeguarded [and] the root cause of war eliminated.”
Get smart: The anniversary harkens back to China’s victory over a superior enemy against all odds.
- Xi is keen to highlight this history as a rallying cry and a source of national confidence as China once again faces down a powerful foe.