By Nitya Chakraborty
The panicky reaction of the US President Donald Trump soon after the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s victory day parade speech in Beijing on September 3 is an indication of the nervousness that has gripped the western nations including the USA at the gradual decline of the West led global domination and the positioning of China as the leader of the emerging rule based global order.
China’s parade marked 80 years of the Chinese victory over Japan in the Second World War leading to the fall of fascist power ending the war in Asia. The surrender of Germany led to the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. Russian President Vladimir Putin also observed the 80 years of the fall of fascism in Europe on May 9 this year. Even after this, the war continued in Asian soil due to the obduracy of Japanese leaders. Finally after the Atomic bombing in Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9 by the Americans, the Japanese military leaders were compelled to surrender. The process was completed in the following days and September 3 was the day marked as the liberation day from Japanese fascism.
This year, Chinese President took full advantage of the global turmoil triggered by unilateral tariff hikes by the US President Trump and used the 80th anniversary celebration of the fall of fascism on Asian soil by rallying a large number of countries including Russia, North Korea and Iran in articulating a parallel line of global leadership based on multilateralism and rule based international order challenging Trump’s unilateral economic and political war which even has rattled his European allies.
President Xi Jinping told the rally in the presence of the Presidents of Russia and North Korea among others that the world has been ‘facing a choice between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation win-win or zero-sum’ and the countries have to decide. This was an open call against Trump’s policies and President XI’s bid to rally more countries in favour of his strategy to strengthen the multipolarity by taking away some more countries from the U.S. domination.
Trump could gauge the possible impact of Chinese President’s address at this period of geopolitics. He reacted in his usual way by asking President Xi Jinping to ‘give my regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America’. This means that according to the US President, China is a conspirator and it is doing that with Russia and North Korea as partners. For Trump any call for action against his unilateral measures, is a form of conspiracy. For pro-Trump commentators, so long USA continues with its dominating role defying all conventions that is normal order, but if any country talks against that, that is a conspiracy, a sort of revolt against the existing order.
Significantly President Xi said China is a great nation that is never intimidated by any bullies in an apparent reference to the USA and warned that China is unstoppable. Chinese President’s gestures and speech were marked by very high level of confidence and these were all aimed at the US President and the western allies including NATO. With President Putin by his side, President Xi conveyed the message to the NATO that even if western countries continue to sanction Russia over the Russia- Ukraine war, Beijing will not be afraid to stand by its friend.
Trump advisers have noted one clear signal from Wednesday’s victory parade in Beijing. The unity of China, Russia and North Korea has been cemented. This is matter of threat to both Taiwan and South Korea. North Korean President Kim said in his meeting with President Putin that he would do everything to assist Russia in its war with Ukraine. Western assessments say that North Korea has sent 15,000 troops of its own to assist Russia in Ukraine war. Further, North Korea has got modern missiles. If needed, Russia can use those
For the Ukrainian President Zelensky, the September 3 display in Beijing is a matter of further worry as the meet has strengthened President Putin and he will bargain with further strength to settle the war on his own terms. For NATO, the import of the parade has also ominous signs. As a part of military parade, China displayed underwater drones including AJX002 and a few intercontinental missiles the DF-61 which can hit any part of the world.
More than two weeks have passed since the last meeting between President Putin and President Trump on ending Ukraine war. No progress has been made so far in fixing the date of a bilateral meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky. President Putin said on Wednesday that he would like to have the meeting in Moscow. After his successful talks with the Chinese President and the North Korean President, Putin is sure to be more tough with both Zelensky and Trump in arriving at a peace formula. Trump talked of further sanctions on Russia if there was a delay on the part of President Putin. It is to e seen whether Trump takes steps to impose further sanctions or ease his terms to persuade Putin to sit for talks with President Zelensky. (IPA Service)
