China marks Japan WWII defeat, shows rising power in parade

[webfact]

China marks Japan WWII defeat, shows rising power in parade
CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — China launched a major military parade through Beijing on Thursday to commemorate Japan's World War II defeat while underlining President Xi Jinping's determination to make his country Asia's pre-eminent power.

The spectacle involved more than 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and 200 aircraft of various types, representing what military officials say is the Chinese military's most cutting-edge technology.

Xi kicked off the proceedings with a speech at the iconic Tiananmen Gate in the heart of Beijing, flanked by Chinese leaders and foreign dignitaries, including Russian leader Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"The experience of war makes people value peace even more," Xi said. "Regardless of the progress of events, China will never seek hegemony, China will never seek to expand and will never inflict the tragedies it suffered in the past upon others."

Xi also pledged to cut 300,000 troops from the People's Liberation Army, the world's largest army which currently has 2.3 million troops.

Xi then drove past the assembled troops in a Chinese-made Red Flag limousine, standing up through a sun roof with four microphones mounted in front of him, calling out "Greetings, Comrades" every few moments.

The parade is part of commemorations of packaged to bolster the ruling Communist Party's self-declared role as the driving force behind Japan's defeat 70 years ago and savior of the nation, though historians say the rival Nationalists did most of the fighting. The events also minimize the role of the U.S., Britain and others.

Most leading democracies kept high-level representatives away, reflecting concerns over the parade's anti-Japanese subtext and China's aggressive moves to assert territorial claims.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-03

[Usernames]

Most leading democracies kept high-level representatives away, reflecting concerns over the parade's anti-Japanese subtext and China's aggressive moves to assert territorial claims.

But not the UN, I see.

[attento]

With all his power, how sad that Mr. Xi doesn't aspire to moral superiority. Armaments take money, but moral courage is without price. The biggest threat to the future wellbeing of the Chinese people is not some foreign power, but the ruling party dictatorship. The biggest threat to the ruling dictatorship is a growing middle class in China. An increasingly worldly-wise sector, which is learning for itself how much of the rest of the world lives and thrives. Mr. Xi has little reason to fear the rest of the world (that's just so much bluster), his real and constant fear is his own country people.

Edited September 3, 2015 by attento

[RickBradford]

I wonder if Mr Xi is aware that China was not the power that brought about the defeat of Japan 70 years ago?

[pattayasnowman]

Will we never learn

BEFORE

Edited September 3, 2015 by pattayasnowman

[MiKT]

China does not seek hegemony, but please hand over the whole of the Pacific ocean without any further delay. Or else. By the way we discovered Alaska with a army Junk on a routine round the world patrol but it was omitted from the dotted line because of a simple drafting error in 1434 so it must still belong to us. We always intended to make the polar bear the national animal of China but in those days it was known as a Sea Panda and foreign devils mixed them up. We understand your president is their now signing the hand over document for which we are willing to pay a nominal one dollar to show our appreciation of you nicking it back from the Ruskies for us.

Edited September 3, 2015 by MiKT

[h90]

With all his power, how sad that Mr. Xi doesn't aspire to moral superiority. Armaments take money, but moral courage is without price. The biggest threat to the future wellbeing of the Chinese people is not some foreign power, but the ruling party dictatorship. The biggest threat to the ruling dictatorship is a growing middle class in China. An increasingly worldly-wise sector, which is learning for itself how much of the rest of the world lives and thrives. Mr. Xi has little reason to fear the rest of the world (that's just so much bluster), his real and constant fear is his own country people.

Well even with the problems the ruling party dictatorship did a good job the last decade or two.

[attento]

With all his power, how sad that Mr. Xi doesn't aspire to moral superiority. Armaments take money, but moral courage is without price. The biggest threat to the future wellbeing of the Chinese people is not some foreign power, but the ruling party dictatorship. The biggest threat to the ruling dictatorship is a growing middle class in China. An increasingly worldly-wise sector, which is learning for itself how much of the rest of the world lives and thrives. Mr. Xi has little reason to fear the rest of the world (that's just so much bluster), his real and constant fear is his own country people.

Well even with the problems the ruling party dictatorship did a good job the last decade or two.

They are very grateful to Walmart et al., for making this "good job" possible.

[attento]

I wonder if Mr Xi is aware that China was not the power that brought about the defeat of Japan 70 years ago?

You can be certain that he knows that it was the KMT Nationalists, and not the CPC, who were the major Chinese force resisting the Japanese, but he is not letting on to the rest of the population .

Edited September 3, 2015 by attento

[Publicus]

The arms parade was held under unusually clear sunny skies in Beijing, but only after a week of drastic measures to reduce its notorious air pollution which is typically six times the EPA standard of safe.

On the worst days, PM 2.5 could reach over 800 micrograms per cubic meter. But on Thursday, the air was good, with PM 2.5 readings at 50. This had been achieved at huge costs. A metropolitan city of almost 25 million people had been practically evacuated, the traffic was stopped, shops closed, and factories in the capital as well as adjacent provinces and cities had been ordered shut.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/09/3-takeaways-from-chinas-military-parade/

[Scott]

An off-topic post, which may have been in the wrong thread, has been removed. This thread isn't about the BKK bombing.

[Neurath]

When the Chinese start sending drones to kill their enemies in other countries I'm really gonna start worrying. This sort of thing should only be done by those with impeccable moral credentials - like us.

[MiKT]

When the Chinese start sending drones to kill their enemies in other countries I'm really gonna start worrying. This sort of thing should only be done by those with impeccable moral credentials - like us.

What do you mean start? Try asking a few Tibetans about that.

[Neurath]

When the Chinese start sending drones to kill their enemies in other countries I'm really gonna start worrying. This sort of thing should only be done by those with impeccable moral credentials - like us.

What do you mean start? Try asking a few Tibetans about that.

Have a look at a map buddy. You might not like it, but Tibet is for now a part of China. You know, like California is a part of the United States.

[MiKT]

When the Chinese start sending drones to kill their enemies in other countries I'm really gonna start worrying. This sort of thing should only be done by those with impeccable moral credentials - like us.

What do you mean start? Try asking a few Tibetans about that.

Have a look at a map buddy. You might not like it, but Tibet is for now a part of China. You know, like California is a part of the United States.

You’re no buddy of mine if you think like that.

After the Mexican-American war, California was under U.S. control and formally annexed and paid for in 1848. Since then there has never been a revolt by Californians against being incorporated into the USA.

The Chinese invaded and overran Tibet in 1950 and there have been continuous sparks of revolution brutally put down and continuous repression of the indigenous population ever since; and no I don’t like it; Tibet is not part of China any more than Korea was Japanese for the 60 odd years after they invaded it. Or for that matter anymore than China was Japanese after they invaded it!

Even the equally repressive Soviet Union has mostly devolved to self-rule and federation, but you can bet your life they will be flying drones over Tibet and all other areas under the control of the PRC for a long time to come yet. – Look out Alaska!