North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will both attend China's Beijing military parade on September 3. Foreign media comment that Chinese President Xi Jinping is sending a signal, demonstrating that the leverage in the geopolitical game may be in his hands; while Chinese scholars say that Kim Jong Un seeks to get closer to China to balance relations between China and Russia.
On the 28th, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that 26 heads of state and government have been invited to attend the September 3 military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Among the invitees, Kim Jong Un's presence is the most unexpected. This marks the first time in 65 years that North Korea's top leader will appear on the Tiananmen rostrum to attend a Chinese military parade. Previously, Kim Jong Un's grandfather and North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung, attended China's National Day military parades in 1954 and 1959.
Sing Tao Daily quoted military expert and former Shanghai University of Political Science and Law professor Ni Lexiong as saying that North Korea's sending troops to Ukraine had previously been over-interpreted by outsiders as “joining” Russia and distancing itself from China. By attending the September 3rd military parade, Kim aims to get closer to China and balance relations with both China and Russia, “to respond to international speculation.”
North Korea Cannot Do Without China’s Support
He said that North Korea's development in various aspects cannot do without China's support. From a long-term interests perspective, North Korea has the necessity to further draw closer to China to safeguard its own strategic interests.
On the 28th, BBC Chinese published a comment stating that the White House has hinted that US President Trump might visit Asia at the end of October and is willing to meet with Xi Jinping. For Xi, appearing together with Putin and Kim Jong Un at this parade serves as a diplomatic bargaining chip ahead of a possible summit with Trump.
The article points out that as Trump is unable to reach a deal with Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war, Xi Jinping is preparing to meet him in Beijing. In addition, Trump has held two summits with Kim Jong Un but failed to make a breakthrough.
The article says that Xi Jinping is sending a signal, showing that the chips in this geopolitical game may be in his hands; although his influence is limited, his role regarding Kim Jong Un and Putin could be key to any potential agreement.
The article argues that after meeting with Kim Jong Un and Putin, Xi Jinping will be able to sit down for negotiations with Trump without being seen as left out—in fact, thanks to his close ties with these two leaders, he may possess information that Trump does not know. (Source: Central News Agency)