For the big celebration of the 100th birthday of the Chinese Communist Party yesterday on Tiananmen Square, the People’s Republic did everything: There were riots, a military band played revolutionary songs like “Socialism is good” or “Without the Communist Party there would be no new one China, “a formation of military helicopters, formed the number” 100 “in the sky, flying with hanging flags reading” Long Live the Communist Party “and fighter jets and other planes trailing blue, yellow and red stripes behind them thundered across the square.
In his address, head of state and party leader Xi Jinping, dressed in a gray Mao suit, warned other states of a “collision course” in their dealings with China. The people will never allow foreign forces to “harass, oppress and subjugate them,” Xi said. Anyone who dares will encounter a “great wall of steel” that 1.4 billion Chinese have forged – and “bloody their heads,” he said to the cheers of 70,000 invited guests. At the same time he protested against foreign criticism: “We will never accept hypocritical sermons from those who believe they have the right to instruct us.”
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Remembering helmsman Mao
Xi Jinping had gathered with the Chinese leadership on the balcony of the Tiananmen Gate over the large portrait of the revolutionary Mao Tsetung at the entrance to the “Forbidden City”. The scene was reminiscent of how the “great helmsman” had proclaimed the founding of the Communist People’s Republic on the same spot in 1949.
In his more than an hour long speech, Xi also called for the modernization of the armed forces: “A strong nation must have a strong army.” He turned against “forces of independence” in the democratic Taiwan, which is regarded as part of the People’s Republic, and called for “peaceful reunification” with the island. Nobody should underestimate China’s determination to defend its territorial integrity. Xi Jinping underlined the party’s absolute leadership role. “China’s success depends on the party.” The party’s anniversary is overshadowed by foreign criticism of China’s tough course in Hong Kong, violations of human rights, unfair trade practices, military muscle games against Taiwan or territorial disputes in the South China Sea, among others. The emerging second largest economic power is often perceived by other countries as a rival or a threat.
Pit message from North Korea
In a key message from North Korea, ruler Kim Jong-un emphasized the “strategic importance of relations with China”. In addition, Kim emphasized the ties between the two neighboring countries through “belief in the socialist and communist cause”. The North Korean Labor Party and the CPC formed a “solid unit”. This unity will raise friendship “to a new strategic point, as the time demands,” said Kim.
