Beijing: More than 10 countries including Russia will join China for a massive military parade through central Beijing next month commemorating the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II, Chinese officials said Friday.
The parade is widely seen as a public display of the People's Liberation Army's fast-growing capabilities, and comes as China is becoming more active in asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Those moves have prompted its neighbours to boost their own capabilities and the U.S. military to renew its commitment to regional allies.
The foreign troops that will join the parade are from countries in Asia, Europe, Africa the Americas and Oceana, parade deputy commander Qu Rui told a news conference in Beijing. He mentioned by name only Russia and Kazakhstan and said more information will be released later.
"Their participation in the parade is a clear indication of their attitude of commemorating the victory of the world anti-fascist war jointly, and a symbol of the aspiration for and pursuit of enduring world peace," Qu said.
Qu said 12,000 troops will take part in the Sept. 3 event, along with 27 formations of military equipment and 10 formations of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Asked whether there was an anti-Japanese element to the parade, Qu responded that the war had brought great suffering to both the people of Japan and of Asia but that the event aimed to look toward the future.
"This is not directed at any third parties," Qu said.
