Signals From Celebrations

Amid some concerns that a rising China will turn to hegemony, the spectacular celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing on October 1 offered reassurance to those who interpreted its messages correctly.

In his address to the nation, President Xi Jinping not only reviewed the past and depicted the present but also envisioned the future, emphasizing peace and solidarity amid continued efforts for national rejuvenation.

The military parade and civilian pageant showcased China’s achievements in the past seven decades. The intercontinental ballistic missile DF-41, on public display for the first time, was much reported by the Western media. But other not-so-highlighted progress was also there, such as economic and social development, progress in science and education, and improvement of the environment and people’s livelihood.

The 70-year history of the PRC and the celebration sent the following messages to the international community:

First, the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) leadership is behind this economic and social progress. China is now the world’s second largest economy and the largest trader in goods. It holds the largest foreign exchange reserves and its utilization of foreign capital and outbound investments rank second in the world. All this marks a stark contrast to the previous agrarian economy.

Fundamentally, this transformation is attributed to the leadership of the CPC, which led to the overthrow of feudalism and imperialism and set the nation on a road of independent development. The birth of the PRC saw the end of poverty, backwardness and bullying endured by China and the nation has since embarked on the path to national rejuvenation.

The civilian pageant and the evening gala showed people’s appreciation and support for the CPC. Besides the main gala in Tiananmen Square, people organized similar celebrations in many places around the country voluntarily and spontaneously.

Second, China’s path of peaceful rise will not change. Reform and opening up has contributed to China’s prosperity and strength, which has been proven in the past four decades. A stronger China has also become the guardian of globalization and free trade against the trend of anti-globalization.

While covering the National Day celebrations, the Western media fixated on the military parade, particularly, the debut of weaponry like new missiles, drones and submarines. It’s wrong to read China strengthening its military ability as an ambition to practice hegemony. Instead, a stronger military capacity will help China to more effectively safeguard world peace.

As Xi said in his address, on its journey forward, China will stay on the path of peaceful development and pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up. China will continue to work with people from all countries to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity. The People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force will always preserve their nature, purpose and character as forces of the people, safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, and uphold world peace.

Third, China’s upward momentum can’t be stopped. Its rapid rise has unsettled some countries but this worry is unwarranted. China has emerged as a big power from a populous, impoverished and backward country and some Western countries particularly are not ready to face up to this change, though they know that this rising giant is peaceful and seeks global benefit. Their reluctance to accept the reality has led them to try to hamper China’s progress by restricting Chinese enterprises through state power, curbing the Chinese economy through trade war and obstructing China’s development by trying to disrupt social order in Chinese cities.

However, China’s achievements are the result of the whole nation’s concerted efforts and arduous struggle for seven decades. With China today established as an influential power among the world’s major economies in terms of its economy, market scale and development capacity, it’s impossible to curb China’s development and its rise. As Xi put it, no force can shake China’s status or stop the Chinese people and nation from marching forward.

China’s past has already become part of the annals of history, while the Chinese today are creating a better life and future. This makes China not only a symbol of peaceful development, but also an icon of opportunities. Cooperation with the country will help its partners reap win-win opportunities to develop themselves in the future.

On its journey forward, China

will stay on the path of peaceful development and pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up