Western leaders missed rare chance to build peace

US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should have been among the world leaders attending the parade in Beijing on Sept 3 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, because, as influential leaders, they are expected to provide global leadership and safeguard peace and stability.

But these leaders will not attend the parade and other commemorative events. In the process, they seem to have suggested that they see the world in terms of "us" and "them", "West" and "East".

The leaders had also collectively boycotted the V-Day parade that Russia held on Red Square about four months ago, although Merkel visited Moscow the day after. However, despite skipping the Sept 3 parade in Beijing, Western leaders will send officials to represent them. Abe has refused to do that, and even did not send the Japanese ambassador to present at the parade.