The People’s Liberation Army is set to send an honour guard to participate in the Victory Day parades taking place in both Minsk and Moscow. Chinese leader Xi Jinping will join Russian President Vladimir Putin at the iconic Red Square event later this week, marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.
This announcement was made by China’s defense ministry on Monday, highlighting Beijing’s commitment to taking part in commemorative military parades in the capitals of both Russia and Belarus. While China previously dispatched honour guards to Moscow for the Victory Day parade in 2015, this will mark the inaugural participation of a Chinese honour guard in Minsk.
Analysts suggest that this gesture, along with China’s recent moves in defense diplomacy, serves to reaffirm support for the post-World War II international order, which Beijing perceives as currently under threat.
Footage circulating on Chinese social media indicates that Chinese soldiers have been rehearsing for the parades in both locations. Reports mentioned that, as part of these preparations, the soldiers performed “Guerrillas’ Song” in Red Square, a piece that reflects the struggles endured by Chinese forces during the second Sino-Japanese war, referred to in China as the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
This participation is emblematic of growing ties between China and Russia, underscoring a collaborative spirit amid a changing international landscape. Such displays of military cooperation might play a pivotal role in shaping geopolitical dynamics in the years to come.