For anyone who missed it, China’s celebration of the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII –
Things really get going at about the 50 minute mark, when the Chairman inspects the units lined up for the parade. It made me think about 1897, and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee review of the British Navy off the Isle of Wight, the impressive spectacle when the British Navy stretched as far as the eye could see. But we all know what happened to the Empire on Which the Sun Never Set after that. No matter how strong & permanent something may seem, that Big Wheel Keeps On Turning.
The other thought that occurred to me – there are an awful lot of slim fit young soldiers in the Chinese military.
I find it odd that countries with traditions and histories so alien to the West nevertheless use military attire indistinguishable from the western. The uniforms and caps could be on American soldiers. In the past, military uniforms reflected local tradition and history. Under Mao, military uniforms had a Long-March vibe with that cap and red star.
This also extends to other formal and semiformal attire such as men’s business suits — Zelensky excepted. Admittedly, Chairman Xi is wearing a Mao-like jacket for his speech but in most of his public appearances he wears a standard business suit. In fashion, Globohomo has triumphed.
We must distinguish various forms of uniform from combat fatigues to parade uniforms.
Function pushes a heavy convergence of the former.
Unlike the NorKs, regarding parade uniforms the PRC under Mao wanted to keep the peasant look and avoid looking too like the Soviets. Now, they want to show that they can be more impressive than the Russians or West.
