Post learns America’s top diplomat in China is unlikely to attend commemoration of end of World War II as bilateral tensions stay high

America’s envoy to Beijing is expected to skip China’s military parade next week, joining what appears to be a concerted effort by Western missions to opt out of the grand event despite Chinese pressure.

The South China Morning Post has learned from multiple sources that US ambassador David Perdue is unlikely to attend the parade that China is holding in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Wednesday to commemorate the end of World War II.

It is unclear if the US embassy would instead dispatch another diplomat or a military attaché to the event.

The Post has reached out to the embassy for comment.