TOI correspondent from Washington: Like a spurned lover not invited to a wedding party, US President Donald Trump took a dig at China and its post-SCO victory parade as American strategists warned about the palpable shift in global balance of power arising partly from his tariff war. In an unfiltered social media post on Wednesday on China’s victory parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War Two, Trump said “the big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi will mention the massive amount of support and “blood” that USA gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader.” “Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice! May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration,” Trump said, snarkily adding, “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”Xi made no reference to the US in his remarks, not did he mention India and Japan, the two other principals in the eastern theater of WW2. The “very unfriendly foreign invader” Trump alluded to was Japan, now a Washington ally, whose depredations against China and cutting off supply routes in Burma resulted in the US having to use airfields in Assam (Chabua and Mohanbari) and Bengal (Kharagpur and Kalaikunda) for airlifts into Kunming, China, over what came to be known as the Himalayan hump. Regarded as one of the most dangerous airlift operations in history due to extreme weather, high altitudes, unreliable maps, and lack of radio navigation aids, the route was dubbed the “Aluminum Trail” due to the numerous crashes, with over 700 planes and 1,200 airmen lost by the operation’s end in November 1945. It is widely regarded as the largest airlift operation in a war until surpassed by the Berlin Airlift.China’s state media and official events though ignored the US role while highlighting Soviet Russia’s contribution and carefully screening out the fact that China at that time was led by the nationalist Chiang Kai-Shek, who subsequently fled to Taiwan after the Communist takeover of mainland China. As Beijing wheeled out its latest military hardware, including ICMBs, hypersonic missiles, stealth fighters, drones, helicopters and tanks, in a 90-minute event attended by Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, a chorus of concern from the US commentariat that the balance of power appeared to be shifting towards China appeared to add to Trump’s pique. Several analysts noted that optics of the SCO summit and the victory parade are unmistakable signs of China’s rise. “Xi Parades Firepower to Signal That China Won’t Be Bullied Again,’ read the headline in NYT while TV networks said China’s military parade had stunned the world. Among the missiles Beijing showcased was DF-5C, a liquid-fueled strategic nuclear missile with a range exceeding 20,000 kilometers, capable of carrying up to 12 warheads (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles, MIRVs), putting the entire world within China’s range.
