Marching to Different Drums: The Army’s Birthday Parade as Seen from China

On June 14, 2025, the U.S. Army marked its 250th anniversary with a public parade in Washington. While billed as the Army’s celebration, the parade was unconventional in American terms. It featured corporate sponsors and was closely identified with President Donald Trump, falling on his birthday. Critics — ranging from veterans’ groups to some members of Congress — viewed it as politically charged, drawing uncomfortably close to spectacles more akin to what we would see in authoritarian countries.Supporters, however, praised it as a tribute to the armed forces and a patriotic show of strength. Before the parade, Kori Schake —

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