Japan `disappointed` by Chinese President Xi Jinping`s WWII speech

Against the backdrop of the largest military parade in modern China, President Xi Jinping announced a troop reduction of 300,000 and pledged peace, reports CBS News correspondent Seth Doane.

A ceremony and military parade commemorating the 70-year anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II was held near Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

All seven key People’s Liberation Army’s military commands – the main bases of the land forces – are believed to be targets of the cuts in personnel. “It means, as President Xi noted, that it was to recall the history in which 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians lost their lives; it was to deliver the message of peace and build universal consciousness of a common destiny of humanity to achieve common prosperity around the world“. After taking over in 2013, Xi placed more emphasis on practical training involving live firing drills and want the army to be ready to win wars as it acquired latest weaponry including long range missiles, new generation of aircraft, aircraft carriers as well as ground weapons. China’s confidence in its armed forces and growing military assertiveness, especially in the disputed South China Sea, has rattled the region and drawn criticism from Washington.

Zeman said his country attaches importance to its relations with China and is willing to keep boosting exchanges and cooperation in finance, aviation, investment and other fields.

Suga also hit out at China’s soaring military spending and reiterated Tokyo’s objection to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s attendance at the highly choreographed commemoration events in Beijing.

Japan said it was “disappointed” there were no signs of rapprochement in Xi’s speech.

Guests who attended the parade include Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as other leaders of countries bearing close ties with China, including Sudanese President Omar Hassan-al-Bashir, who is wanted by the worldwide Criminal Court for war crimes.

Western leaders stayed away and Britain was represented by the veteran Conservative politician Kenneth Clarke. China will remain committed to peaceful development.

Ahead of the parade, the USA said five Chinese ships had been spotted in the Bering Sea off Alaska for the first time. “But the display of some of its naval missiles, however, could be China’s sign to Asean countries (that have maritime disputes with it) not to mess with China”.

The parade takes place as economic growth is ebbing to its lowest rate in three decades and the stock market has turned uncomfortably bearish. However, it rarely misses an opportunity to draw attention to Japan’s wartime role.