Beijing and Taipei had been locked in a battle of narratives in the lead-up to the parade: China’s Communist Party has long claimed to be the “main force (zhongliu dizhu)” resisting Japan during the war.
Taiwan maintains that it was the Kuomintang-led government that carried the bulk of the fighting against the Japanese. These two contending narratives remain the focus of intense debates and extensive academic investigations.
SECURING LONGEVITY
China’s Victory Day Military Parade is a highly choreographed demonstration of political dominance, historical legitimacy and expanding military power.
Taken together, these messages project toughness and unity, signals the leadership hopes will strengthen China’s footing in a time of rising global uncertainty.
With the military’s support, Mr Xi’s political longevity appears secure and the parade is set to reaffirm the party’s narrative, thereby bolstering the Party-state’s popularity among the public in a time of economic slump and external geopolitical pressure.
Although the military parade’s theme paints China as a force for peace and justice, its ongoing conflicts with neighbouring countries, especially in the South China Sea, impugns this assertion.
Grasping China’s true intentions and strategic calculations now appears even more important as internal solidarity strengthens and the PLA continues to make gains in offensive capabilities.
Yang Zi is a Research Fellow in the China Programme at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
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