China detains man for ‘slanderous’ remarks against Victory Day military parade

The 47-year-old, identified only by his surname Meng, was detained in Zaoyang on Thursday for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a common criminal charge in China. 

According to Xiangyang’s cyber police, Meng made “slanderous and derogatory remarks” on social media about the event, provoking anger online.

Police said his comments “insulted them and spread rumours, provoking strong anger among netizens,” but did not specify what he had written. 

They added that his remarks had “hurt people’s patriotic sentiments and caused severe negative social impact”.

“The great spirit of the war of resistance serves as the spiritual backbone of our nation,” Xiangyang cyber police said, referring to China’s fight against Japanese forces during the Second World War. 

“Any attempts to distort or smear the history, defame military personnel taking part in commemorating events or harm patriotic sentiments will be severely punished by public security authorities.”

Trump calls parade with Kim, Putin a ‘conspiracy’

The parade marked the anniversaries of the Second World War and the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was China’s largest military display in decades, lasting 70 minutes, and featured advanced weapons, tanks, missiles, fighter jets and domestically-built aircraft.

Leaders from 26 countries attended, with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un joining President Xi Jinping on Tiananmen Gate as guests of honour. 

Other attendees included Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Absent from the ceremony were leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Poland and the Czech Republic. Poland and the Czech Republic, who attended in 2015, were replaced this year by Serbia and Slovakia.

U.S. President Donald Trump criticised the event, accusing Xi, Putin and Kim of conspiring against Washington.

“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

He also pointed to American sacrifices in the war: “Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honoured and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!”

Despite his criticism of the parade, Trump dismissed concerns that closer ties between China, Russia and North Korea could threaten Washington, saying they would not form a coalition against the U.S. because “China needs us.”