A continental breakdown of China’s 80th Victory Day parade guest list
China welcomed 26 foreign representatives to its latest military parade in Beijing to celebrate the end of World War II and its victory over Japan.
While the number of attendees was down from 30 in 2015, the continental spread of leaders essentially represented a shift in geopolitical ties between China and the rest of the world, as well as their growing influence in key regions.
We bring you a continental breakdown of the key participants in the celebration:
Asia dominates the guest list
The strongest presence came from Asia, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un flanking Xi on Tiananmen Gate as guests of honour. They were joined by Asian heads of state and government, including Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, highlighting Eurasian solidarity.
Central Asia was strongly represented with Kazakhstan’s Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan’s Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan’s Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan’s Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and Uzbekistan’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
From South and Southeast Asia came Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Myanmar’s Acting President Min Aung Hlaing, Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong, Laos’ President Thongloun Sisoulith, and Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni.
European representation
Europe was represented by only two leaders. These were the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Both have been outspoken critics of sanctions on Russia and have sought closer ties with Moscow.
Africa’s representation slashed
From Africa, the Republic of the Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa made the trip and were the only top representatives from the continent. This comes in spite of China’s increased strategic presence on the African continent. In 2015, five African countries made the guest list. Nonetheless, the participation of the two African leaders was symbolic of African partnerships.
Latin America’s sole representative
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel was the only Latin American leader present.
Absentees and envoy-level participation
Conspicuously missing were leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Poland, and the Czech Republic. While Poland and the Czech Republic had attended in 2015, they were replaced this year by Serbia and Slovakia.
Meanwhile, Brazil, Egypt, and South Korea chose to send envoys rather than heads of state, signalling more cautious engagement.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
