President Lee Jae-myung’s decision on whether to attend China’s Sept. 3 Victory Day celebrations risks being interpreted as a shift in diplomatic alignment, with implications for South Korea’s alliance cohesion, economic positioning and regional credibility.

China’s invitation to the annual event, which commemorates Japan’s 1945 surrender and the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War places Seoul in a politically sensitive position. The ceremony has long served as a platform for Beijing to reinforce its historical narrative and global posture.

In 2015, the event featured a large-scale military parade attended by foreign leaders, including then-South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

Beijing’s