Trip reflects South Korea's correct view of history: expert
South Korean President Park Geun-hye will be attending events in China to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory of China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45), though her attendance at the military parade remains unknown. [Special coverage]
Analysts said Park's visit is "significant" because it demonstrates her country's view on peace and history, as both countries had suffered great losses from battle and colonial rule.
Ju Chul-ki, senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs, said on Thursday that Park will leave for China on September 2, the day before China holds its WWII anniversary ceremony in Beijing.
"Consultations are under way between South Korea and China to work out the details" of whether Park will attend the military parade, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Park is also likely to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Analysts said they consider Park's visit a "breakthrough" as the West had largely misconstrued China's intentions behind the parade. They added that to visit China and attend the events, Seoul may have resisted pressure from its key ally, the U.S.
"South Korea and China both fought against Japan during World War II. As South Korean president, her attendance at the events reflects her country's view on that particular part of history," Jin Canrong, vice director of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Public opinion reflected
He said that Park may have taken into consideration public sentiment, as a poll conducted by Realmeter in August in South Korea showed 51.8 percent supported Park's attendance at China's military parade, while 20.6 percent disagreed.
The announcement on Thursday put an end to speculation over Park's attendance and the possible diplomatic wrangling behind that decision.
Slamming a Kyodo News report, the South Korean government on August 9 denied that the U.S. had asked its president not to attend China's parade, adding that "a situation like that would never happen."
The Kyodo report said Washington feared her attendance would "send the wrong message to the world that China has cracked the U.S.-South Korea alliance."
"Ties between South Korea and the U.S. remain strong despite her trip to China. South Korea does not wish to deepen ties with China at the cost of its relations with the U.S.. It wants to strengthen China-South Korea ties while maintaining a strong alliance with the U.S.," Jin said.
West 'politicizing' parade
Analysts have also criticized Western media for calling China's military parade a move to "showcase military prowess" and "suppress Japan."
China's foreign ministry has repeatedly emphasized that the event is to remind people of the importance of peace.
"The West has politicized the parade, making it appear like the battleground of a new Cold War. By doing so, they are forcing countries to choose sides while ignoring China's reasons behind hosting the event," Lü Chao, a scholar of Korean Studies at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.
As of Thursday, leaders from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Czech President Milos Zeman, have agreed to attend the commemorating events.
China has also invited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but Japan has not confirmed Abe's attendance.
There are no reports on whether U.S. President Barack Obama will appear at this event.
It remains unknown whether any North Korean official will attend the September 3 event.
A diplomat from North Korea's embassy in Beijing declined to answer the question when reached by the Global Times on Thursday.
Analysts said that the ceremony could be an opportunity to bridge the gap between Seoul and Pyongyang.
Many countries have already held events commemorating the end of World War II.
Russia hosted a V-Day parade on May 9 featuring troops from countries like Azerbaijan, India and China.
Ceremonies were also held in Paris, London and Berlin in May, with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry laying a wreath at the Arc De Triomphe, the BBC reported.
Park will witness the reopening of the office of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai, which was established in 1919.
Korean independence fighters resisted Imperial Japan together with Chinese patriots during Japan's colonial era from 1910 to 1945.
