Bob Carr to attend Chinese parade. Does it matter?

This week, the 80th anniversary of the signing of official delivery documents by the Japanese in the Pacific War. On Wednesday, China will officially organize a large-scale parade, which is defined as a passage ceremony to commemorate the victory of the Chinese people in the war of resistance against the Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war. Chinese state media within a day release List of foreign representatives continuing The parade ceremony, Australia’s major media organizations, all former Foreign Minister and NSW Premier Bob Carr focused on the participation of multiple stories.

Carr’s participation is news of news because the current Australian government leaders – prime minister, ministers or deputies – do not go. On the other hand, in 2015, the Government of Abbott sent Michael Ronaldson, Minister of Vehicle Affairs to participate in the 70th anniversary. This year, Carr and Victoria Daniel Andrews former workers Premier will join both, but in a personal capacity.

A series of media organizations – including Sydney Morning Herald – He asked Carr about his trip to China. Australia He also questioned Russia’s inclusion of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un from North Korea on the guest list, “paused to participate in the event,” he questioned. ABC News He observed that Carr was “not worried that the event would also participate in Australia by leaders from hostile countries”. Sky News He saw the participation of Carr and Andrews as a “very bad look ..

It is difficult to miss the political symbolism of the parade. Indeed, when Putin, Kim and Iran joined Masoud Pesshkian, Western commentators saw this year’s parade as proof of China’s intention to exhibit solidarity With these countries challenge Against the West. Singapore -based analyst Alfred Wu characterized This year’s XI attempts to show that it is very powerful, it is still strong and is well welcomed in China ”.

It seems logical that the Australian media wants to ask Carr the decision. However, all major sales points seem to have had a good opportunity to ask a serious question about how Australia, located in the Asia-Pacific region, should be able to handle itself when a difficult situation manifests itself.

For example, our media could have asked: Australia sent a minister for the last time, so what has changed? Would it be important for Australia to send an official representative? What could be the thoughts of the Australian government against going and doing?

David Goodman, Director of the Chinese Studies Center, understands the decision of Australia, but does not believe it is the best call:

“Australia’s decision not to send official representatives to the September 3 parade proposes two open explanations: not to blame Japan; and to follow the US leadership in the conflict with China. In both cases, the interests of Australia are not best served, and high -level interactions with other participating countries are lost.”

Although one of the objectives of the parade may have propaganda value for the Chinese government, Professor Goodman believes that remembering and honoring history is important:

“The anniversary of the end of World War I in 1945 is an important date for Eastern and Southeast Asia and Pacific countries. Considering the role of Australia in Asia-Pacific, there is not only a significant economic relationship with China, but to participation.”

When it comes to history, China had entered World War II long before Europe. “Incident”September 18, 1931 points to the beginning of the occupation of the three northeastern provinces of China. Japan later began in full -scale Chinese invasion in 1937. One of the darkest parts of this war was the Nanjing massacre that the Japanese army killed. estimated More than 100,000 to 300,000 Chinese in the Nanjing region. The event often defined “Nanking Rape: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II, and some details of the horror of the massacre were caught in the recently published film Dead to rights. Even many young people in China know bad reputation ”Unit 731”A secret Japanese project that carried out human medical experiments on civilians in Harbin City in the 1930s and 1940s.

Between 1931 and 1945, Japan’s expansion wars were drawn in Asia-Pacific and beyond a wide variety of competitors. While China endured the longest conflict and was subjected to the largest losses, the war included many countries, including Australia, the USA, the UK and Southeast and East Asian countries. These different participants, who entered the struggle at different times, formed some of their broader allied efforts against Japan.

Carr to defend the decision to participate in question In addition to honoring the sacrifices of the Chinese people, China’s victory was vital for Australia because “Japanese progress was so fast that her navy invaded Australia”. This point is also ten years ago Malcolm TurnbullThen the Minister of Communication:

“China’s central role as our ally in the Second World War is barely remembered in Australia… We should never forget that China’s war against Japan is only their war – and we may have never won without China.”

In order to hold the parade, the Chinese government spokesman He says that the parade aims to “remember the history, honor the martyrs, feed peace and create a better future”. On the other hand, unofficial idea leaders such as Hu Xijin, former Editor -in -Chief of Daily Tableid Global Timesless thin. Hu Discusses II. World War II would remind you that there was not just a European conflict-the people in the Asia-Pacific suffered tremendous losses. He also believes that the Japanese government will mention a point that the Japanese government has not yet conveyed real regret to China and other Asia-Pacific neighbors.

Japan, which foresees the parade, actively lobbyed to prevent other countries from participating – furious Beijing. In addition, the Japanese government constantly intervened in preventing the efforts of Korea and Chinese diasporas to build in honor of sculptures.Comfort women“South Korea, San Francisco, Berlin and Sydney.

Geoff Raby, former Australian Ambassador to China, observations Australia has forgiven Japan a long time ago, but there was never a rapprochement between China and Japan. Considering that China is our biggest trade partner and Japan is a security ally, the Australian government is facing an enigma. As Minran Liu, a lecturer in international relations, said:

“For Australia, the greater, practical question is that Australia is actually ready to interact seriously with the history of East Asian? This is not just an academic issue, but a long -term consequences of how Australia thinks and moves in the region.”

Allan Behm of the Australian Institute and former Senior Consultant (2017–19), Shadow Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong believes that our Southeast Asian neighbors gave a clue to this question:

“Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam seem to understand which path is over. In my opinion, Australia, Canada, NZ and NATO members would not harm China’s recognition of the Second World War and Success.

Both the Australian government and the media have not yet understood how to square our geography and our geography and how to negotiate between the memories of the past and the security obligations of today.