Beijing says Taiwanese invited to Victory Day parade – but doesn’t specify who
A decade has passed since former KMT chairman Lien Chan made the trip across the Taiwan Strait for the event
Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said that representatives from various sectors of society, including Taiwan compatriots, would take part in the parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II.
“All of the Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan, made sacrifices and contributions in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression,” Zhu said.
“We hope people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will remember history, honour the martyrs … and work hand in hand to further promote national reunification and create a bright future for national rejuvenation,” she said without saying who would make the trip from Taiwan to attend.
Beijing has been preparing for the 70-minute parade for weeks, closing roads for large-scale midnight rehearsals, banning drones and stationing guards on all overpasses, to show the strength and solidarity of the People’s Liberation Army.
Various foreign leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, have been invited to review the troops alongside President Xi Jinping.