China showcased its full military might during the ‘Victory Day Parade’ held on September 3, which featured a grand display of modern and large-scale weaponry alongside a traditional military procession. This parade was organized to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II. However, the spotlight during the event remained on Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—who appeared together publicly for the first time. Alongside these key figures, over 20 heads of state participated in the parade, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It was a notable moment as two of the world’s most heavily sanctioned leaders—Putin and Kim Jong Un—stood shoulder to shoulder with Xi Jinping on a global platform. During his speech at the parade, Xi made it clear—without naming anyone—that “China is not afraid of threats.” In what appeared to be a direct response, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Xi on social media of conspiring with Russia and North Korea against the United States. According to Professor Sriparna Pathak of O.P. Jindal University’s China Studies program, the U.S. seemed visibly unsettled by the attention this parade received globally, and Trump’s remarks could be seen as a way to remind China that the U.S. had once aided it during World War II. Interestingly, recent weeks have witnessed escalating trade tensions between the United States and India. President Trump has openly criticized India multiple times. This may explain the slight warming of ties between India and China after a five-year freeze. China–India relations had hit rock bottom in 2020 following a deadly military clash in the Galwan Valley, but recent shifts in American policy appear to have nudged the two Asian powers closer once again. This recent thaw began last month when China’s foreign minister visited India, followed by a return visit from Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to China. On a related note, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit—his first such visit in seven years. Indian analysts saw Modi’s trip as a significant step toward improving bilateral ties with China, suggesting a possible shift in military diplomacy. However, a day after the SCO summit, the high-profile military parade took place—attended by nearly all the world leaders who had participated in the summit. Notably absent from the parade was Prime Minister Modi. This absence sparked much speculation, commentary, and analysis. Yet the key question remains: Why did Modi skip such a significant event amid rising geopolitical tensions?
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also participated in the military parade, along with other heads of state.
The Indian government has not issued any official comment on the matter so far. However, Arvind Yeluri, Associate Professor at the Centre for China and Southeast Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, explained that the parade in China was essentially a celebration of victory over Japanese aggression during World War II. India likely refrained from participating to avoid sending a negative message to Japan, with whom it shares long-standing and strong ties. During World War II, India stood against British colonialism—not Japan. This aligns with India's longstanding policy of preserving India–Japan relations. Responding to the same question, Professor Sriparna Pathak stated that although all world leaders were invited to the Victory Day Parade, Prime Minister Modi chose not to attend. The event celebrated military victory over Japanese forces, and Japan remains a close friend of India. She added that China has never truly trusted India—neither in the past nor now. Amitabh Singh, Associate Professor at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, agreed with these views but also offered another perspective: India does not want to be seen aligning with global powers that are neither liberal nor democratic. This reflects New Delhi’s broader approach to maintaining strategic neutrality. It’s worth noting that prior to attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan, and from there, he traveled to China. Given the historically strained relations between Japan and both China and North Korea, Singh emphasized that India would likely feel uncomfortable sharing the stage with China and North Korea under such symbolic circumstances. “Japan and China have a history of deep-rooted animosity. Whenever China wants to invoke nationalism, it references Japan and World War II,” Singh said. Arvind Yeluri further explained that “Japan was never seen as a fascist force from India’s perspective, which is why India stayed away from the parade. More importantly, had India participated, it would have been perceived as endorsing China’s military showcase.” He added that while fascist powers may no longer exist in the same form today, the way China and the People’s Liberation Army are asserting military dominance could have allowed China to use Modi’s presence on the stage for its own advantage. Ultimately, these concerns over military optics appear to have been the driving force behind India’s decision not to participate in the event.
Tensions between the United States and India had started brewing well before the imposition of U.S. tariffs as high as 50% on Indian goods. Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to China is being widely viewed and interpreted in this context. Modi’s interactions with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit are seen by many as a subtle message to the United States. However, an important question being raised is whether Modi deliberately avoided attending the Chinese military parade to avoid further antagonizing President Trump. Amitabh Singh doesn’t believe that Prime Minister Modi’s decision was influenced by Trump. He explains, “I don’t think Modi skipped the parade because of Donald Trump or the U.S. If you look back, shortly after visiting India, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also visited Pakistan and Afghanistan. It seems China tried to balance its relationships with both India and Pakistan.” Singh further pointed out that the gathering of world leaders in China was perceived globally as a coalition of nations inclined toward joining the Chinese-led alternative world order, which could be one of the reasons India chose to stay out of it. He added, “If we list the countries that participated in this parade, most of them rank low in terms of liberalism, democracy, and civil rights. This parade was not just a display of power but also a narrative promoting a competing global order.” According to Singh, Modi’s visit was more of a foreign policy signaling effort. India fully understands that its disputes with China cannot be resolved through a single diplomatic visit—but such gestures could serve as an initial step toward broader dialogue. He concluded, “The world is currently witnessing a phase where demonstrations of unity are necessary. But that doesn’t mean India is aligning itself with a Chinese-led world order. India wants to be seen standing with the liberal and democratic world order, not against it.” This shows that India’s actions are carefully calculated within the evolving dynamics of US–India relations, aiming to strike a balance between strategic interests and global alliances.
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