Remember the past, but don’t be trapped by it, says DPM Gan as he attends China’s parade

BEIJING – The region must never forget the price that comes with violence and war, nor take peace and prosperity for granted, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong wrote on social media on Sept 3, after attending a military parade in Beijing.

“It is important that we remember the past and honour the sacrifices of the millions of lives lost... However, we must also look ahead and not be trapped by history,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Singapore remains committed to working with all our partners to maintain regional peace and stability for our collective prosperity and progress,” he added, noting that the region has come a long way since the end of World War II eight decades ago.

Earlier in the day, DPM Gan attended

the Victory Day parade at Tiananmen Square,

at the invitation of China. The parade marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

He watched the morning parade from the Tiananmen Gate Tower, together with the invited leaders from more than 20 countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping was flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The countries present were invaded by Japan during World War II or had contributed to China’s war efforts.

For Singapore, before it fell to the Japanese on Feb 15, 1942, many residents had contributed funds or boycotted Japanese goods to support China’s resistance after Japan’s full-scale invasion in 1937. In retaliation, the Japanese army massacred tens of thousands of people in a purge called “Sook Ching”.

At the parade, advanced weaponry and contingents of the People’s Liberation Army were showcased, a bid by the Communist Party of China to root its political legitimacy in wartime sacrifice while projecting military strength and great-power stature on the global stage.

After the parade, DPM Gan and other leaders attended a gala lunch hosted by Mr Xi at the Great Hall of the People, just steps away from Tiananmen Square.

DPM Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, will meet top Chinese leaders on Sept 4.

Beijing is the final stop of his

five-day visit

to China. Earlier, he was in the cities of

Guangzhou

and

Shenzhen

in the southern Guangdong province, where he met local leaders, Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong and Shenzhen Party Secretary Meng Fanli, as well as engaged with Chinese and Singapore companies.