China will never be ‘bullied,’ Xi vows on Communist Party centenary

Beijing, Jul 1 (EFE).- China’s president declared Thursday that the country would never allow any foreign force to “bully, oppress, or subjugate” the nation, which has always worked to “safeguard world peace, contribute to global development, and preserve international order.”

In an address at Beijing’s iconic Tiananmen Square to commemorate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping, also the secretary general of the CPC Central Committee, told the around 70,000 people gathered there that “no one should underestimate the Chinese people’s determination, and strong ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“Anyone who would attempt to do so will find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people,” Xi added, to a standing ovation.

In a speech lasting more than an hour – preceded by a hundred-cannon salute – Xi also referred to the self-governing island of Taiwan over which Beijing claims sovereignty.

“Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Communist Party of China,” he said.

“We must take resolute action to utterly defeat any attempt toward ‘Taiwan independence,’ and work together to create a bright future for national rejuvenation,” he added.

In this regard, Xi indicated that “we are equipped with greater capacity and more reliable means for safeguarding our national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”

“We must accelerate the modernization of national defense and the armed forces,” said Xi, who is also chairman of the CPC’s Central Military Commission.

He also stressed the cause of “national rejuvenation,” which the party uses to stay in power.

“The CPC and the Chinese people, through tenacious struggle, have shown the world that China’s national rejuvenation has become a historical inevitability,” he declared. “They have shown the world that the Chinese nation has achieved the tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong.”

During his address, Xi also announced that China has accomplished its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society.

“This means that we have brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China, and we are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects,” he said.

“Only socialism can save China, and only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China,” he added, emphasizing that a socialist market economy has helped the country become the second-largest economy in the world.

The CPC is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding on Thursday with large-scale commemorative celebrations, strict security measures, and a large-scale propaganda campaign across the country.

The capital has been adorned with large floral displays, national flags on the doors of houses and red banners, although other cities such as Shanghai will also host light shows, live performances and fireworks on Thursday to add pomp to the celebrations. EFE

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