China Quietly Downgrades Presence at Russia’s May 9 Parade in Moscow

China will not send a special government delegation to Moscow for Russia’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations, with the country represented only by embassy officials, according to statements by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, as cited by Ukrinform on May 8.

Responding to a question from Russian state media, Lin said that “representatives of the Chinese embassy in Russia will certainly be present” at the parade marking the Soviet victory in what Russia refers to as the “Great Patriotic War.”

The spokesperson did not explain why Beijing chose not to dispatch an official state delegation to the annual military ceremony in Moscow.

Russia’s May 9 parade has become one of the Kremlin’s central political and propaganda events since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, with Moscow using the occasion to project military strength and demonstrate international support despite growing global isolation.

It is reported that only the leaders of Belarus, Slovakia, Malaysia, and Laos will arrive in Moscow for the May 9 parade. Slovakian PM Robert Fico will arrive in Moscow, but stated that he will not participate in the parade.

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Also, at the Kremlin’s invitation, the leader of unrecognized Abkhazia, Badra Gunba, will arrive in Moscow with his wife, as will the leader of unrecognized South Ossetia, Alan Gagloev.

In the meantime, Moscow is preparing for its May 9 Victory Day parade under sweeping security restrictions, with authorities set to shut down mobile internet, disrupt banking services, and halt air traffic across the capital—measures officials say are necessary to protect the event.

In addition, reports emerged that Russia was reportedly withdrawing combat-capable soldiers from active frontline positions to prepare for the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, affecting unit effectiveness on key sectors of the front.

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