Japan has turned down China's invitation to the military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the  end of World War II and marking its victory over the Japanese forces.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has reportedly said that he rejected China's invitation because accepting it would mean Japan is submitting its soverignty to a former enemy.

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Reports said Abe did not accept the invitation because Japan will feel uneasy about what it sees as China's growing assertiveness in the region.

Speculations are rife that one of the reasons China will be holding a military parade is to emphasize Japan's lack of contrition over its past war aggressions, and to warn Tokyo about its maneuverings in the hotly contested islands that are being claimed by both countries.

Reports said this will be the first time that China has invited foreign dignitaries and world military leaders to join as observers in the parade.

Chinese defense ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said the respective armed forces of the participating countries will be welcome to march in the Chinese parade.

Among the world leaders who have been reportedly invited were  Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Yansheng, in a press conference, stressed that the parade was not a celebration of China's victory over Japan but a remembrance of the 30 million casualties that China suffered during the eight year long war against Japanese aggressions.

"Through the military parade, China hopes to demonstrate our firm stance, join hands with the rest of the world, safeguard the victorious outcome of the second world war, maintain world peace and stability, and create a better future for mankind," Geng said at a monthly news conference.

Reports said the parade will be held in September, which marks the surrender of Japanese forces. He added that the invitations have been sent out to the countries who fought in the conflict as well as to world leaders who had no direct participation in the war.

Part of the parade will feature China's air power as well as sophisticated weaponry and will display the military might of its troops.

TagsWorld War II, military parade