There have been claims that David Perdue, the United States Ambassador to China, will not attend the military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War (World War II).
The South China Morning Post (SCMP), citing multiple sources on August 29, reported that Ambassador Perdue is unlikely to attend the parade scheduled for September 3. It is also unclear whether the U.S. Embassy will send other diplomats or military attach?s to the event.
Ten years ago, during the 70th anniversary parade of China’s victory, then-U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus was in attendance.
SCMP also reported that European diplomats based in China, including Jorge Toledo, the European Union Ambassador, are considering not attending the parade. The absence of the U.S. Ambassador appears to align with this move by Western diplomats.
At a press conference regarding the parade, Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Foreign Minister of China, stated, "While we seek mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation with the United States, we are also determined to firmly safeguard China’s national sovereignty, security, and development interests."
With North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin set to attend this parade, there are growing expectations that the confrontation between North Korea, China, and Russia on one side and the United States, South Korea, and Japan on the other will intensify.
Among European leaders, only two-Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico-will attend the event.
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