TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not attend events to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in China next month, Japan’s government spokesman said on Monday, amid concerns over China’s military ambitions.



More than 10,000 troops — mostly Chinese but with contingents from Russia, Mongolia and a few other countries — will march through central Beijing on Sept. 3 in a parade that will be the highlight of events marking the war’s end.



Abe has tried to improve relations with China, but progress has been very slow due to Japan’s perceived failure to atone for its wartime aggressions and China’s increasingly assertive tone in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas.



“The prime minister has decided not to attend because of his schedule in Parliament,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.



“He will not be traveling to China shortly before or after Sept. 3. We will continue to seek out ways for our two countries to communicate with each other.”



Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier on Monday national broadcaster NHK said Abe would skip the ceremony in China to focus on collective self defense bills currently being debated in parliament.



He also decided to side with Western leaders who are staying away from the military parade in China. — Reuters