China's Victory Parade is meant to be the same as the Europeans and Americans commemorating D Day or Russian's victory over Nazi Germany. But this Parade is again being politicised by the American terrorists and turning into a with us or against us event. The Americans are twisting the arms of their European allies, colonies and cronies not to attend the Parade.
Japan is also doing the same, making calls to Asean states not to attend the Parade. This in a way is getting more interesting and countries sitting on the fence would have to make a deliberate choice. Those that attended would end up in the bad books of the Americans and Japanese and may face sanctions or more tariffs. Those that did not turn up will expose which side they are on, can no longer pretend to be neutral to be like India, play both sides. This is shiok to watch and see how they try to wriggle out from it with sophistry.
With the whole world being caught up in the new divide, forced by all the sanctions, tariffs and coercion by the Americans, attendance in this Parade is going to be telling, to be with the Americans and Japanese or to be with China and the Global South. Countries that play the strategic ambiguity game would be in a very difficult position now. Do die, don't do also die.
Countries cannot choose to be neutral as they have to attend or be absent, cannot be in the middle. Can countries cook up things like a matter of principle, rules based order, or being polite, ie have to attend because one is invited? Those not invited would have an easy choice.
Oh, there is a way to minimise the impact by sending a low level minister to attend instead of a head of govt. This is a way of appeasing the Americans and Japanese by going halfway and also not to offend the Chinese with a direct rebuff. The Americans and Japanese are not coercing or forcing them, for sure.
Who is making all the American cronies stuck between a rock and a hard place, forcing them to take sides? It is a ceremonial event, like commemorating the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Why make such a big farce? Being American cronies is increasingly very difficult and uncomfortable. For the BRICS countries and the majority of the Global South, the choice is easier. Just attend without the American terrorists and Japanese breathing down their neck.
With China as their biggest trading partner, how many would risk offending China and choose to kiss the ass of Trump and the Japanese?
Watch which asshole will say China is forcing countries to take sides.
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