While the Blue House says it will make an official statement in the latter part of the week, it is now generally accepted that President Park Geun-hye will visit China in conjunction with that country’s Victory Day. What has not been decided on yet is whether she will attend the military parade that will form the centerpiece of the day’s events.

Her visit was all but confirmed when the Blue House and the White House announced that a summit between Park and U.S. President Barack Obama would be held on Oct. 16 in Washington. In an unusual move, the announcement was made months in advance, sparking speculation that, with the Park-Obama summit cemented, Park would feel less concerned about Washington’s reaction to her accepting China’s invitation to attend the Victory Day celebrations.

Most world leaders, including Obama, in fact, have turned down China’s invitation. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will reportedly meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Sept. 3 but will not attend the parade. Countries that have accepted China’s invitation are those with close ties to the communist state. However, given that it is Korea’s largest trading partner, Park cannot risk ignoring China. Furthermore, China is a key player in the efforts to denuclearize North Korea as it still exerts influence over the world’s most isolated country.

This year marks only the second time that Victory Day is being celebrated. Two new national observances were created last year: Victory Day on Sept. 3 that commemorates Japan’s surrender in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression; and National Memorial Day on Dec. 13 marking the Nanjing Massacre.

In fact, this is the first time that a military parade is being held as part of the Victory Day celebrations. It is also the first time that foreign dignitaries have been invited. Until now, military parades were held on National Day on Oct. 1. This year’s two-hour parade at the Tiananmen Square will be a showcase of China’s latest weapons involving 10,000 military personnel marching to show off China’s new military confidence.

Pundits are divided over whether Park should attend the military parade, although they are in general agreement that she should accept China’s invitation. Those who caution against attending point out that while the Victory Day marks Tokyo’s surrender in the resistance war against Japan, a war that Korean independence fighters also waged, it was the Chinese Red Army that fought alongside North Koreans against the South. They also argue Park’s attendance could be seen unfavorably by Washington. Those in favor argue that skipping the parade will be in poor form and that Park should demonstrate solidarity with the Chinese in pressuring the Japanese government to settle matters of history, including the issue of military sex slaves.

While in Beijing, Park should demand that Beijing exert more pressure on Pyongyang to resume the six party talks aimed at the denuclearization of North Korea and should also propose a Korea-China-Japan trilateral summit.

Park should exploit her China visit to the fullest extent to advance Korea’s interests, especially since the trip comes at the cost of possibly offending Washington at a time when Washington and Beijing are increasingly antagonistic.