On Sept. 3, as the government is set to hold a military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan in Tiananmen Square, China is expected to find ways to balance three delicate sets of diplomatic relations, according to political commentator and Beijing-based journalist Mu Chunshan.
According to the country's foreign ministry, 30 foreign heads of state will attend the parade, the first time foreign leaders will appear at a military parade on Chinese soil. As the whole world will be watching, Beijing is believed to emphasize China's contribution to the Allied defeat of Japan, show off growing military strength to demonstrate its status as a rising world power.
Mu, however, said in an article in Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao that the parade will also present a challenge to China on how to balance three sets of tense diplomatic relations: Russia and the West, China and Japan, and North and South Korea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first foreign leader to confirm that he will attend the Sept. 3 parade. But U.S. President Barack Obama and EU leaders will not be attending the event. According to Mu, the major reason that may be seen as an excuse may be because no one is willing to share a stage with Putin.
However, U.S. and European representatives will still take part in the commemorative activity and that China must ensure that both Putin and Western representatives feel they are being respected and looked after, Mu said. After all, China's relations with the U.S. and Europe are even more important that its relationship with Russia, Mu added.
Another thing, China also has to find a balance with Japan, Mu wrote. While Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stated that he will not be attending, the fact that Beijing invited him is a sufficient sign of respect and diplomatic courtesy, Mu said.
The third set of relations that Beijing needs to balance is between North and South Korea, Mu said. Although Kim will not attend the parade in person, he will be sending his special envoy, Choe Ryong-hae, to attend on his behalf. Meanwhile, South Korean president Park Geun-hye confirmed that she will ignore U.S. pressure and attend the parade, and Beijing needs to consider how it will balance its interests, especially when Park and Choe cross paths.