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Kathmandu, Aug 29: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1, and then take part in the September 3 military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japanese aggression.

Diplomatic circles in Kathmandu are watching closely how Japan, regarded as one of Nepal’s largest development partners, will respond to Oli’s decision. Concerns are being raised that Japan could be displeased with his presence. Reports say Japan has sent informal messages to European and Asian governments, requesting heads of state or government not to attend the parade.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement issued Wednesday, Oli will attend the SCO summit as his main engagement, but will also join the parade commemorating Japan’s defeat in World War II. Nepal officially follows a non-aligned foreign policy.

Media reports cite Japanese diplomatic sources saying Tokyo instructed its embassies abroad to inform countries that Chinese events often carry “anti-Japan sentiment” and urged leaders to weigh participation carefully. In 2015, when China marked the 70th anniversary of victory, President Xi Jinping stressed that younger generations must have the correct view of history and learn its lessons. His remark came after then–Japanese PM Shinzo Abe had said that postwar generations should not be obligated to keep apologizing for the war.

The Guardian also reported that Western leaders will not attend this year’s parade, though Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are set to participate despite Western pressure.

Chinese officials confirmed that among the 26 foreign leaders expected are Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and South Korean parliamentary speaker Woo Won-sik. Only Slovak PM Robert Fico will attend from the European Union.

Japan has already raised questions about Oli’s presence. In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said they had noted Japan’s concerns but stressed that the purpose of the event is to “remember history, honor martyrs, cherish peace, and march toward the future.” He added that countries committed to peace and willing to face history honestly should have no objections.

The upcoming parade will be the largest and most elaborate China has ever held, with fighter jets, missile defense systems, and hypersonic weapons on display. China lost millions of citizens in its long war with Japan in the 1930s and 40s, which became part of the global conflict after Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

Initially, Beijing had invited Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel, but he declined, partly because of Japan’s displeasure and partly because he received Japan’s prestigious “Order of the Rising Sun” award in 2022. Attending a victory parade against Japan, he felt, would be morally inappropriate. Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav was also considered, but since the SCO summit coincided, the decision was made for Oli to attend instead.

During the trip, Oli will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, address the SCO summit on August 31, and meet other leaders including Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. His delegation includes Education Minister Raghujib Pant, Tourism Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, Nepali Congress Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka, Economic Advisor Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, and lawmaker Chhabilal Bishwakarma. After China, Oli will head directly to India for an official visit.

On September 3, Oli will be among 26 foreign leaders present at the parade alongside Putin, Kim Jong Un, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh, and others. According to the BBC, China will showcase hundreds of aircraft, tanks, anti-drone systems, and for the first time, its full spectrum of new military strength.