Xi warns of ‘rough seas’ as China fetes 75 years of communist rule

Beijing has marked the 75th year of Communist Party rule with low-key festivities as economic challenges and security threats linger over the country and its leader, Xi Jinping, warning of “rough seas” ahead.

A flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square on Tuesday saw an honour guard marching from the entrance of the sprawling palace that, in past centuries, was the home of Chinese emperors.

“The road ahead will not be smooth; there will definitely be difficulties and obstacles, and we may encounter major tests such as high winds and rough seas, or even stormy waves,” Xi said during a banquet on the eve of the anniversary on Monday.

“We must be vigilant in times of peace, plan ahead, and rely closely on the entire party, the entire army, and people of all ethnic groups across the country,” Xi added, stressing that “no difficulties can stop the Chinese people from moving forward.”

Commemorations were also held in the former UK colony of Hong Kong and Portugal’s former territory of Macao, both returned to Chinese sovereignty in the late 1990s after what Beijing refers to as the “Century of Humiliation”.

National slump persists

In recent decades, China has mounted military parades and displays of the country’s economic might only at the turn of decades, such as for the 60th and 70th anniversaries.

No major festivities were announced for the occasion on Tuesday, save for the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen.

Meanwhile, the state-run media ran reports on China’s economic progress and social stability, with no mention of the challenges.

Faced with persistent economic pressures since the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering security threats, the world’s second-largest economy is experiencing a national slump, according to experts.

A declining birth rate has harmed the largely export-driven economy due to the disruption in supply chains, and a prolonged property flop led to a spillover effect on other parts of the economy, from construction to sales of home appliances.

Last week, the government announced several measures to boost the economy, including lower interest rates and smaller down payment requirements for mortgages.

Beijing also faces growing frictions with its neighbours, including Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, over territorial claims and their close relationships with China’s chief rival, the US.

The Communist Party has ruled in Beijing since 1 October 1949, when Chairman Mao Zedong declared the formation of the People’s Republic of China.