Farcical speculation about victory parade
'China will flex its military muscle." This seems to be the message many Western and Japanese media outlets are giving by speculating that China might hold a grand military parade in September.
This is a typical example of much media ado about nothing, because even if a military parade is held in September to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), it will only be part of a series of activities to commemorate the anti-fascist war.
China has no intention of showing off its military might to any country, even when Japanese politicians' irresponsible comments and contentious moves have raised tensions in East Asia. It's true the parade, if it is held, will be special. In 1999 and 2009, special parades were held on the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China. But the "victory parade" will not be held on the National Day.