China’s Military Parade Commemorating World War II

Historic tales of China ruled the roost as resplendent China celebrated the Victory day with great pomp and aggrandisement. World Wars, their precedence and history, have been foundations for the existing geopolitical alignments. Especially World War II played a major role in reshaping future course of several nations.  Some historians believe the war unfolded with Japan invading Manchuria in 1931 and reached a cusp with the Sino-Japanese wars in 1937 and Western forces declared way in 1939. Finally surrender of Japan on the afternoon of August 15^th 1945 marked the end of the longest war fought in the modern days.  Japan signed the document of surrender on September 2^nd 1945. Both these days are of immense significance and are commemorated as V-J Day (Victory over Japan).  China recognises September 3^rd as the Victory of War of resistance against Japan and celebrates the event annually. But the unprecedented scale of weapons display and a massive military parade instantly caught attention of coterie of nations. While the second war has restored peace and fostered mutual co-existence between European nations territorial disputes continue to simmer in Asia. The hostilities of the yesteryears refuse to die down.

Even after 70 years of the war, China and Japan are beleaguered by bellicosity. On August 15^th as has been the practice, Japan Prime Minister Shizo Abe has expressed deep remorse for the suffering meted out during the war. China rebuked Japan for its insufficient apology, for the brutal excesses committed during the 8 year long war referred to as “The war of resistance against Japanese Aggression” or the “World Anti-Fascist war” (1937-1945). Meanwhile the recent defence assertiveness of Japan stoked up tensions between the nations. Ever since ascent of Xi Jingping to the highest authoritarian seat in 2012, the President has effectively harnessed history to stoke Chinese nationalism. Obstinately, China chose 70^th anniversary of the V-J Day, to showcase its muscle power with formidable display of military strength portending its resurgence. The pageant featured 200 aircrafts, 27 phalanxes, indigenous and conventional nuclear missiles system, and 12,000 troops. The ostentatious showdown reflected China’s ambitions to incarnate itself as cornerstone of Asia. The event intended to celebrate the defeat of Japan in a way brought out glaring parities within Asian continent to fore. Strategic analysts opine that the colossal parade helped to effectively cull down brewing dissidence caused by plummeting of its stock markets (1) and hushed up concerns of environmentalists following the massive explosions in Tianjin that killed more than 150 people.

China often falls back to the cliché of keeping the past alive. It has been very unapologetic about Japan and its horrific crimes of 1930sand 1940s, and spelt out its denouncements more stridently. While Mao Zedong wasn’t vociferous towards Japanese aggression, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership after him effectively nurtured anti-Japanese sentiment to stoke nationalism (2). War veterans of Taiwan (which was ruled by China till 18950) opined that Chinese obsession proffers them to project Japan’s imperialist past.  Since China makes desperate attempts to deter Japan by clambering to past and inordinately the World is forced to dissect China’s history marred with several inglorious events.

Along with several other countries China invited Indian contingent to join the parade. The invitation put India in a tight spot. In May President Pranab Mukherjee participated in 70^th anniversary celebrations of World War II at Russia where Indian military contingent was part of the parade. It would seem churlish to skip Chinese parade. Having strengthened bilateral relations with Japan to checkmate China’s muscle-flexing, India wasn’t keen on participating in the event focussed on denouncing Japanese past. But India’s participation is befitting for its invaluable contribution in the World War II. Indian heeding to appeals of Chinese nationalist leader Chiang-Kai Shek joined hands to fight Japanese forces in Japan (3). Around 60,000 trained in Ramgarh (Bihar) during the last two years of the war under American supervision. US forces established air bases in India and ferried supplies to Chinese forces. Kaushik Roy in his article titled “Expansion and deployment of India of the Indian Army during world war II” explained pivotal role played by the Indian army in turning around the fortunes of the British forces which were war-shy. Madhusree Mukerjee, a researcher and author in  “Churchill’s secret war: the British Empire and ravaging of India during the world war II” goes on to explain how enormous amounts supplies like timber, iron and steel, woollen clothing, leather goods have been diverted to war from India.  According to The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Economic History a whopping 35% of India’s annual cotton, 196.7 million tonnes of coal, 6 million tonnes of iron ore, and 1.12 million tonnes of steel were supplied by India. The travails undergone by India due to war are indescribable while nearly 3 million people died of starvation in Bengal famines tonnes of food grains were grotesquely diverted to Britain (4). Over 2.6 million Indian troops participated in war, besides 14 million workers worked round clock to prepare war supplies. Around 24,338 soldiers lost their lives, 64, 354 were wounded and 11, 754 were missing. India has suffered greatest losses in terms of personnel and material supplies among the allies. But pathetically, India’s role in the World war is unappreciated. After the war while claims over wealth and territories were equally distributed among the allies India was forced to shell out $24 million towards UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. India can legitimately claim its share of repute for participating in the World war and can participate in the event.

India on its part has taken right decision in maintaining low profile at the event and was represented for Minister of State for External Affairs, V. K. Singh. The list of the leaders of the state attended and the jumbo sized contingents of certain countries is reflective of China’s diplomatic ties. Of the 51 countries to which China extended out invitations, two countries Japan and Philippines, the two countries which are embroiled with past and present territorial disputes turned down invites. Troops from as many as 17 countries too joined the parade. Besides the two heads of state Vladimir Putin and Park Geun-hye of South Korea, the rest of them are from small countries. In total 30 countries have sent their leaders which prominently include- leaders of the SCO, Cambodia, Loas, Egypt, Vietnam, Myanmar, South Africa, Pakistan, Venzuela, Sudan and 19 countries are represented by state officials in the event beset at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

China flaunted modern weaponry to spread message of peace marking 70 years of the Victory over Japan. The event is markedly conspicuous by the absence of the heads of the state from most of the South East Asian countries that are wary of the growing Chinese clout. China awed the World with a stupendous display of a conglomeration of its advanced and automated weaponry enamoured by majestic parade of its armed troops.

President Xi Jinping delivered a pragmatic message of proclaiming peace. While   commemorating triumph over the imperialist forces he pledged that China would “never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past suffering on any nation claim”. He also announced to down size its army of 300,000 troops (which turns out be 13% cut of the army). But interestingly he refrained from mentioning the time frame of cutting down of troops. While China is out to flout its muscle power, countries are now grudgingly appealing China to analyse its past.

Though World is not looking at China through the eyes of West more precisely the US, the undeterred aggressive land reclamation program in South China Sea and  territorial disputes with Japan in East China Sea have made Asian countries hostile (except for Pakistan which considers China it’s all weather-friend).

1. http://www.economist.com/news/china/21663278-real-purpose-rare-military-display-was-show-who-charge-parades-end
2. http://newsblock.io/s/55e8a22054ad660300bc16d5
3. http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/srinath-raghavan-writes-war-embers-that-continue-to-simmer/article7547037.ece
4. http://swarajyamag.com/magazine/how-india-bailed-out-the-west-in-world-war-ii/

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