BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed his nation as a major world power and force for peace Thursday as he presided over a massive military parade marking the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.Speaking from atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing — the same place Mao Zedong stood to declare the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 — he told assembled crowds that his country had achieved “total victory” in 1945, leading to the “great renewal of the Chinese nation.”
As he spoke, fighter jets roared overhead and a parade of tanks, missiles and troops streamed by. His remarks were designed to underline China’s determination to become Asia’s pre-eminent military and economic power, but he pledged a 300,000 reduction in troops in a bid to show his country poses no expansionist threat.
Even with the cuts, China will continue to have the world’s largest standing military.
“This triumph re-established China as a major country in the world and won us the respect of all peace-loving people,” Xi said.
Earlier, Xi kicked off the proceedings with a speech at Beijing’s iconic Tiananmen Gate that was attended by foreign dignitaries including Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. President Obama and European leaders were invited to the ceremony but chose not to attend.
“We Chinese love peace. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion,” Xi said.
Since becoming leader of China’s ruling communist party in late 2012, Xi has worked to raise China’s profile in the world, founding a new international bank and launching a multi-billion dollar infrastructure and trade plan to reconnect China with Central Asia and Europe.
China usually only holds lavish military parades every 10 years to mark the anniversary of the founding of the communist People’s Republic. By holding an additional one now, Xi ensures he’ll preside over at least two of the prestigious events during his decade-long tenure that ends in 2023.
Thursday’s parade — ostensibly to commemorate the 20 million Chinese who died in World War II — is about showing off China’s military might, analysts say. “This (parade) was done from a position of power and confidence,” said Steve Tsang of Nottingham University’s China Policy Institute.
To underline that new-found confidence, China’s defense ministry confirmed Thursday it sent ships to waters off the coast of Alaska while President Obama is visiting the state. The Pentagon said it is the first time Chinese naval vessels have operated in the Bering Strait.
Most western leaders stayed away from the event because of the parade’s anti-Japanese tone and its highly militaristic nature. Although China denies the event was intended to embarrass Japan, Xi used a related medal ceremony Wednesday to denounce the country’s wartime acts as “fiendish” and “brutal.”
In the run up to the event, state media republished reports of Japanese soldiers admitting to mass rape and vivisection on Chinese prisoners.
As he spoke, fighter jets roared overhead and a parade of tanks, missiles and troops streamed by. His remarks were designed to underline China’s determination to become Asia’s pre-eminent military and economic power, but he pledged a 300,000 reduction in troops in a bid to show his country poses no expansionist threat.
Even with the cuts, China will continue to have the world’s largest standing military.
“This triumph re-established China as a major country in the world and won us the respect of all peace-loving people,” Xi said.
Earlier, Xi kicked off the proceedings with a speech at Beijing’s iconic Tiananmen Gate that was attended by foreign dignitaries including Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. President Obama and European leaders were invited to the ceremony but chose not to attend.
“We Chinese love peace. No matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion,” Xi said.
Since becoming leader of China’s ruling communist party in late 2012, Xi has worked to raise China’s profile in the world, founding a new international bank and launching a multi-billion dollar infrastructure and trade plan to reconnect China with Central Asia and Europe.
China usually only holds lavish military parades every 10 years to mark the anniversary of the founding of the communist People’s Republic. By holding an additional one now, Xi ensures he’ll preside over at least two of the prestigious events during his decade-long tenure that ends in 2023.
Thursday’s parade — ostensibly to commemorate the 20 million Chinese who died in World War II — is about showing off China’s military might, analysts say. “This (parade) was done from a position of power and confidence,” said Steve Tsang of Nottingham University’s China Policy Institute.
To underline that new-found confidence, China’s defense ministry confirmed Thursday it sent ships to waters off the coast of Alaska while President Obama is visiting the state. The Pentagon said it is the first time Chinese naval vessels have operated in the Bering Strait.
Most western leaders stayed away from the event because of the parade’s anti-Japanese tone and its highly militaristic nature. Although China denies the event was intended to embarrass Japan, Xi used a related medal ceremony Wednesday to denounce the country’s wartime acts as “fiendish” and “brutal.”
In the run up to the event, state media republished reports of Japanese soldiers admitting to mass rape and vivisection on Chinese prisoners.
