European envoys in Beijing are discussing plans to skip China’s massive military parade next month after considering the attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the possible participation of Russian troops, the Post has learned.
According to five sources familiar with the matter, European missions in Beijing have been invited to the parade and events on the same day but are particularly troubled by the Russian leader’s attendance as Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian territory.
As the war in Ukraine drags on, some European diplomats were conflicted over being in the presence of “the same troops that invaded Ukraine”, one of them said.
The Kremlin in June said Putin would travel to China from August 31 to September 3 to take part in the rare military parade Beijing is staging to commemorate the end of World War II, as well as attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
The parade – poised to be only the second time China has held such a parade commemorating the war’s end – would offer Beijing a chance to showcase its military’s combat capabilities and expanded global clout.
The Kremlin did not say whether Russian troops would march alongside Chinese military personnel in this year’s parade. At the inaugural edition in 2015, a 76-man strong elite Russian Honour Guard was part of the formation.
