林德宜：为何西方抹黑中国的阅兵

“人类又面临和平还是战争、对话还是对抗、共赢还是零和的抉择。”
中国国家主席习近平在纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年大会上的讲话。

当美国总统特朗普因未受邀参加中国纪念抗日战争胜利暨二战结束80周年的盛典，与众多世界领袖同台而怒火中烧之际，《纽约时报》、《卫报》和《天空新闻》等西方媒体，则极力将该活动形容为“独裁者的阅兵”或“独裁者同盟”，企图透过强调一些被指控为威权或非民主政体的国家领袖出席，来贬低这场盛会。

然而，与会者包括马来西亚首相安华、印尼总统普拉博沃、越南国家主席梁强、寮国总统通伦西苏里、柬埔寨国王西哈莫尼、缅甸军事领袖敏昂莱，以及新加坡副总理颜金勇。西方国家与国际组织包括联合国代表亦有到场，但除俄罗斯总统普京外，出席的高层级国际领袖绝大多数来自非西方国家。

西方秩序的拥护者，借由简化且恶意的抹黑，去谴责那些政治制度不同于西方的各国领袖，实际上反映的是自身千疮百孔政治体制、以及过时的外交政策。这样的做法，既愚弄了本国民众，也误导了本国政客。

阅兵传递的讯息

中国阅兵以及稍早举行的上海合作组织峰会获得多国领袖高规格出席，所展现的事实与讯息，已经清晰无比。

首先，与会国家领导人中，不少国家正遭受西方制裁，甚至与美国外交政策直接对立，他们的出席成为这些国家日益结盟、共同推动一个反对西方霸权与主导的新国际秩序的铁证。

其次，虽然阅兵名义上是为纪念二战结束，但同时也是对中国在战争中所作贡献的致敬——这一段在西方主导的战争史叙事中往往被淡化甚至忽略。同时，亦凸显俄罗斯在任何未来国际秩序或战争中的关键地位。

第三，阅兵传达出的核心地缘政治讯号，在于展示中国军事力量的重大进展，以及中国在维护世界和平与稳定方面的能力。这些讯息包括：

1.军事现代化与技术实力展示

阅兵中亮相了中国最新的军事装备，包括洲际弹道导弹（如东风-41）、隐形战机（如歼-20）及其他先进系统，显示出中国在军事现代化上的进展，并具备与美国、俄罗斯等大国竞争的能力。

中国已不再是“抄袭者”，其自主技术展示出对外来进口依赖的减少，以及军事创新的成就，释放出自立自强与技术主权的强烈信号。加之中国在几乎任何武器制造上无可匹敌的高速量产能力，意味著中国在战场上已不是可轻易击溃的对手。大多数分析人士相信，中国的韧性与民族性格，将使其在任何战争中取得胜利。

2.国家团结与政治合法性投射

除了军力之外，阅兵还传递出中国共产党的合法性与其成就。无论在外交层面，还是面向全球舆论，讯息都十分明确。这种爱国展示与先进武器的亮相，既是对潜在对手的威慑，也是对内外展现中国维护自身利益与全球影响力的能力。

3.软实力的展现

阅兵也是一种软实力的表达。在活动尾声，八万只和平鸽与八万个气球飞向北京上空，这一画面旨在留下团结、和平、以及中国虽然崛起但仍致力于和平的深刻印象。

这样的效果，不仅安抚了盟友，也安抚了非盟友。同时从全球社交媒体观众的反馈，与西方媒体刻意制造的意识形态化叙事，形成了鲜明对比。

无可否认，媒体的亲中或反中报导，使阅兵释放的讯息，有关中国国力与国际地位，传达给了广大的全球观众，这不只在塑造全球对中国地缘政治成就与目标的认知，也在打造西方和美国视为“劣等”的新国际秩序。

习近平的呼吁

或许，对阅兵最重要的解读，应聚焦于习近平主席在现场以及全球直播观众面前的讲话，甚至也针对未来透过网络重温这场阅兵的人群。

在习近平演词中，他指出：“人类又面临和平还是战争、对话还是对抗、共赢还是零和的抉择。”

他对中国的选择是：“中国人民坚定站在历史正确一边、站在人类文明进步一边，坚持走和平发展道路，与各国人民携手构建人类命运共同体。”

值得探讨的，并不是习近平穿的中山装，或是普京与习近平之间被西方媒体夸大报导的“长寿对话”。真正需要讨论的，是西方应如何与中国及全球南方合作，携手推动世界和平，促进全球发展，并成为新国际秩序中一个有建设的参与者。

林德宜《为何西方抹黑中国的阅兵》原文：Why The West Is Smearing China's Military Parade

"Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games."
President Xi Jinping speech at China military parade to celebrate victory over Japanese aggression and the end of World War 2

As United States President Donald Trump seethed over not being invited to join the galaxy of world leaders attending China’s celebration of victory over Japanese militarism and to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2, Western media outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian and Sky News have gone to town to describe the event as a "parade of autocrats" and “an autocrats alliance” in an effort to denigrate it by drawing attention to the attendance of leaders from nations criticised as having authoritarian and non-democratic governments.

In fact, attendees included Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, Vietnam's President Luong Cuong, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung, and Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. Representatives from Western countries and international organisations
including the United Nations were also present but the top-tier of international attendance, apart from Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, was overwhelmingly non-Western.

By engaging in simplistic attempts to smear and condemn leaders of nations with political systems different to that of badly frayed Western political systems whose expiry dates in foreign policy are seen by many as long overdue, proponents of the western dominated global order are doing their domestic audiences and politicians a disservice.

The Parade’s Messages 

The reality of the high level attendance at China's parade and the earlier Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting cannot be denied or made clearer than what was showcased in the parade event. 

Firstly, the presence of leaders from countries - some of them are under Western sanctions with many in direct opposition to U.S. foreign policy - serves as irrefutable evidence of the growing alignment of these nations and their commitment and push to create a new global order that is against Western dominance and hegemony.

Secondly, although the parade was officially held to commemorate the end of World War 2, it was an event to honor China's role in the war that has largely gone missing or is given little recognition in the western dominated war historiography. It was also to spotlight Russia’s key position in any world order or future war.

Thirdly, the core geopolitical message that the event sent was about the major advancement in China's military strength and of China's ability to contribute to peace and stability in the world. There are several components of this message.

Demonstration of Military Modernization and Technological Prowess

The parade showcased some of China's latest military hardware, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (e.g., DF-41), stealth aircraft (e.g., J-20), and other advanced systems. This signals the country's progress in military modernization and its capacity to compete with global powers like the U.S. and Russia.

No longer a copycat, the display of indigenous technology emphasizes Chinese reduced reliance on foreign imports and achievements in military innovation. This is a strong signal of self-reliance and technological sovereignty. Together with China’s unrivalled high speed capability in manufacturing practically any weaponry, (over capacity charge?) what it means is that China is far from being a walkover in any war. Most analysts are convinced that Chinese resilience and national character are likely to prevail against any enemy in any war.

Projection of National Unity and Political Legitimacy

Besides military strength, signalled also are the ruling Communist Party's legitimacy and its achievements. The diplomatic as well as larger public world message on these was unambiguous. The display of patriotism and advanced weaponry was to serve as a deterrent to potential adversaries by demonstrating China's capability to defend its interests and project power internally and globally.

Demonstration of Soft Power

Parades are a form of soft power. Marking the end of the event, the images of 80,000 doves and 80,000 balloons soaring into the Beijing sky was intended to leave an indelible impression of unity, the pursuit of peace and a picture of China, whilst a rising global power, committed to it.

The aim to reassure allies and non allies can be regarded as successfully accomplished. 

This is evident in the response of ordinary social media viewers and readers from around the world that is starkly different from the ideologically biased messaging of the hacks of western media.

There is little doubt that together the pro and anti China media coverage and propaganda has ensured that the parade's messaging of China's power and international relations status has reached a sizable global audience. This will shape not only global perceptions of China's geopolitical achievements and goals but also the new world order that western media continues to condemn as flawed and inferior to the one in which the U.S. and West are the dominant players.

President Xi’s Call

Perhaps the most important message emerging from any analysis of the parade should come from a reading of the speech made by President Xi to the attendees and viewers around the world livestreaming the event, as well as to the future audience assessing the parade on the Internet.

In his speech, Xi emphasised that "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games."

His choice for China:"The Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history and the progress of human civilization. We will remain committed to the path of peaceful development, and join hands with all peoples around the world in building a community with a shared future for humanity."

What deserves scrutiny is not the Mao-like suit worn by Xi or the snatches of conversation between Putin and Xi on longevity that were overheard and are now sensationalized by western media. It should be about how the west should work with China and the global South to build world peace, contribute to global development, and become a useful participant in the new international order.