At the Victory Day parade in Beijing, China portrayed itself as a peaceful country which could be the region’s net security provider. In reality, the massive show of strength was to legitimise its leadership claims in Asia
Placed in context, the victory against Japan and anti-fascism parade held in Beijing on September 3, on the 70th anniversary marking the end of World War II, was a massive show of strength, to inform the Chinese people of the rise of the People’s liberation Army, as well as bolster its disputed claims in the South China Sea, as also to message to rivals and competitors that China is no pushover.
The spectacular parade and the awesome arsenal of deterrence on display on the eve of President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US, sent appropriate signals that China, be treated as a strategic equal. The occasion sanctified the ideals of national pride, the great renewal of China and its dreams of great power, signifying the unequivocal abandonment of Deng Xiaoping’s strategy of downplaying military capabilities: Hide your strength and bide your time.
This writer was in Chinese Hong Kong, riveted to China TV for nearly three hours, watching the parade, replete with Chinese characteristics, yet fabulous in military precision. China suffered 35 million casualties and 80 million became refugees over a seven-year period from 1937 to 1945. More than 50 world leaders were invited, though 23 heads of state arrived, with the West represented mainly by Ambassadors and former Ministers.
Our own Minister of State for External Affairs, Gen VK Singh who was not around during the 1962 war, was inconspicuous, though there was no embarrassing tweet about ‘duty’ and ‘disgust’. The only leader close to the US was South Korean President Park Geun-hye, wearing a canary-yellow jacket, members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and oil and gas producing countries like Russia, Venezuela and Sudan.
leaders were received on a red carpet by Mr Xi and his wife Peng liyuan, dressed in flaming red, at the southern entrance to the Forbidden City, before moving atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace, overlooking Tiananmen Square from where Mr Xi took the salute.
Here is a blow-by-blow account of the parade, which began with the 2400-member active defence song and band ensemble of the PlA, singing six patriotic songs. These included Defending the Yellow River, Guerilla Song, March of the Volunteers and People’s Army is loyal To The Party. Thereafter, Premier li Keqiang announced the commencement of the parade: With a 70-gun salute, unfurling of the national flag and singing of the national anthem.
Mr Xi’s address mentioned repeatedly Japanese aggression adding, “We Chinese love peace; no matter how much stronger it may become, China will never seek hegemony or expansion. It will never inflict its past sufferings on any other nation”. He invoked the thoughts of all past leaders, adding that all countries should jointly uphold international order and system underpinned by the purpose and principles of UN charter. As expected, he announced a cut in PlA of 300,000 troops, the largest reduction in more than a decade of the 2.3 mn PlA.
Previous reductions were: One million (1985); from 4.23 million to 3.23 million (1987); down to 3.19 million by 1990; 50,000 in 1997 to 2.5 million; 200,000 between 2003 to 2005 to the present 2.3 million. The downsizing is designed to assuage international concerns of PlA’s rise and underline China’s peaceful intentions.
Speech done, Mr Xi was escorted by the Parade Commander, a lieutenant General, to review it in a made-in China covered black Sedan with four microphones and standing space for the two. More than 50 Generals were leading troops, equipment displays and flypast in which 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware and more than 200 aircraft participated. The average age of the Generals was 53, several with combat experience, presumably in Vietnam (1978). Five lieutenant Generals led the weaponry display and Major Generals led their troops in the march past.
Wearing a Mao jacket, Mr Xi reviewed the parade, greeting each contingent with ‘Okima Hao’ (Good Day) and receiving a collective response. While returning to the Heavenly Gate, oddly Mr Xi was saluting with the left hand and waving with the other. The march past started with a formation of 70 helicopters carrying Chinese flags and emitting the red, yellow and blue colours of the Air Force. Sixty-seven PlA units followed, led by the veterans with average age of 90 years. Some of them had fought with Allied troops in Burma and during the Normandy landings.
The marching columns commemorated different battles waged by Japan during the resistance war. Contingents of foreign Armies marched past alphabetically — a 10-member Afghan squad, columns from Cambodia, Cuba, Egypt, four soldiers from Fiji, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, laos, Mexico, Pakistan, Serbia, Tajikistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Russia. An Indian contingent was taken off at the last minute and just as well as the Burtse confrontation in ladakh occurred 10 days later.
Eighty-five per cent of the equipment was being displayed for the first time. The ground assault Type 99A main battle tank is a third generation tank with 125 mm smooth bore gun with the world’s most powerful 1500 horsepower engine and composite armour, next only to the German leopard II and US MI2 Abrams. Fast forward to Second Artillery Force, the custodian of conventional and nuclear ballistic missiles. The DF 21D was described as a ‘trump card in asymmetric naval warfare’ and along with DF26 are the only two ballistic missiles known to be able to sink aircraft carriers — called carrier killers. The spotlight fell on the Mirved DF31 A ICBM and DF5B ICBM called the weapon of national sovereignty and national dignity. The D41 ICBM China’s most powerful weapon, was not shown ostensibly as a gesture of peace.
Due to space limitations this writer will skip the Air Force, except to mention the versatile J series of fighters including the J20 stealth fighter (not shown) and the carrier-born J 15. While China’s air power is not as impressive as the ballistic missiles, it is still formidable and high-tech 90 per cent of all equipment was Chinese manufactured which puts Beijing in a different league.
The release of 70,000 doves symbolised that China is not a hawk. While the goals of national revival are to be achieved by 2020, China aims to be an affluent society by 2049, a century after its formation.
The parade marks China’s claim to the leadership of Asia and Mr Xi’s unprecedented control of the PlA. China posits itself as a peaceful country, claiming it is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations among the P5, has no foreign bases, and is a net stability provider. India must take this sweeter than honey stuff with a fistful of salt.
