China's second world war commemorations: is it right to invite Japanese leaders?
Beijing observers say correct to ask Shinzo Abe,but in Japan event deemed 'bully's diplomacy'
Some mainland diplomatic observers say China should invite Japanese leaders to attend a huge military parade in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war, but the event has been dismissed by some Japanese analysts as a bully's approach to diplomacy.
China should follow commemorations in Europe, where Germany is invited, according to some observers; others believe the matter should be dealt with cautiously to avoid embarrassing Beijing and Tokyo.
State media reported on Tuesday that the parade would be held in September, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin was expected to be invited.
The parade will also boost the political power of President Xi Jinping , and exert pressure on Japan, which is involved in disputes over wartime grievances with its neighbours.
Lian Degui, an analyst at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said it was appropriate for China to invite Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the parade, even though Abe was unlikely to accept.
"It would create an impression that China is intentionally excluding Japan if it did not invite Abe," he said, adding that Japan's government was still upholding the general stance on history of successive prime ministers, including Tomiichi Murayama's 1995 apology over the war.
"It would not be in line with diplomatic protocol if China did not invite Abe," Lian added.