UN rejects Japan's complaint over Ban's China visit

The United Nations on Monday brushed aside Japanese complaints over Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's plan to attend a military parade in Beijing, saying the World War II commemoration was an opportunity to reflect on the past. Japan complained that the United Nations should remain "neutral" and shun the military parade this week marking 70 years since Japan's defeat in World War II. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressed that Ban had attended similar events throughout the year, notably in Poland, Ukraine and in Moscow where President Vladimir Putin staged a show of military might.
Ban "hopes that all countries will use this time to reflect on the past and obviously look to the future," said Dujarric. China's parade on Thursday, which comes as Beijing takes a more assertive stance regionally, will see 12,000 soldiers and 500 pieces of military hardware roll through Tiananmen Square. Nearly 200 aircraft will fly overhead.