Weekly Report 3|1 9.28.2019-10.4.2019
Highlights
Xi Jinping spoke at the PRC’s 70th anniversary celebration (see Senior Leaders section).
Qiushi published a lengthy editorial dissecting an essay written by Xi Jinping about how the Party can maintain power (see Propaganda Work section).
Senior Leaders
Central Education Campaign Leading Group Releases Notice on Strengthening Patriotic Education and Promoting a Patriotic Spirit through the “Remain True to the Original Aspiration, Keep the Mission Firmly in Mind” Education Campaign
9.29 The central leading group for the “Remain True to Original Aspiration, Keep Mission Firmly in Mind” education campaign released a notice stressing the importance of strengthening patriotic education and promoting patriotic spirit through the education campaign.
The notice required the education campaign to lead party members and cadres to consolidate their love for the Party, the country, and socialism. It demanded party members and cadres cultivate patriotism and a will to make the country stronger through studying Party history and the history of the New China. The notice said the education campaign should stimulate the patriotism of party members and cadres with the events commemorating the 70th anniversary of New China. Lastly, it emphasized translating the patriotism of party members and cadres into actions that promote reform, development, and stability.
Xi Jinping’s Speech at the Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the PRC
10.1 Xi Jinping delivered a highly anticipated speech at the celebration ceremony for the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. During his speech, he said that “seventy years ago on this day… the Chinese nation embarked on the path of realizing national rejuvenation… No force can shake the status of our great motherland, or stop the Chinese people and nation from marching forward.”
On the journey forward, Xi called for upholding the leadership of the CCP, ensuring the principal status of the people, and staying on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He emphasized upholding the principles of ‘peaceful reunification’ and ‘one country, two systems,’ and striving for complete reunification of the motherland. Moreover, Xi pledged that China will stay on the path of peaceful development, and pursue a win-win strategy of opening up to build a community of shared future for mankind
In his closing remarks, Xi called for all party members, the armed forces, and people of all ethnic groups to “unite more closely together, remain true to the original aspiration, keep the mission firmly in mind,” build on existing achievements, and strive for achieving the “two centenary goals” and the China Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
His speech was further publicized with a People’s Daily commentator series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3).
Propaganda Work
Huang Kunming Visits 70th Anniversary Celebration Events Media Center
9.29 Propaganda Department Head Huang Kunming (黄坤明) visited the media center for the 70th anniversary celebration events, where he emphasized that the center should “serve as a window,” meticulously organize news releases and interviews, and provide professional, efficient, and convenient media service.
Huang pointed out that “the eyes of the entire nation and the world are upon the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the New China” and that news reports should focus on the celebration events, promoting patriotism, and fully demonstrating the glorious journey of the past 70 years. He called for increasing authoritative information release and strengthening specialized, customized, and systematized service following the needs of domestic and foreign media.
PD Editorial: A Saga of Struggle, the Great Force of Rejuvenation: Enthusiastically Congratulate the 70th Anniversary of the PRC
10.1 People's Daily published an editorial celebrating the 70th anniversary of the PRC. The editorial quoted Xi Jinping in describing China’s journey of the past 70 years as “a deeply moving saga of struggle both in the history of the Chinese nation and the history of the world.”
The editorial pointed out that Chinese history between 1949 and 2019 “demonstrates the original aspiration and mission of each CCP member” and that “achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” is the “greatest dream” of modern China. It said this history is the “manifestation of hundreds of millions of people’s struggle and passion” and that the continuous hard work of the hundreds of millions of people will most certainly make “our People’s Republic more prosperous and strong.”
According to the editorial, history will prove that socialism with Chinese characteristics is the required path for the Chinese nation to achieve the great rejuvenation. Socialism with Chinese characteristics “provided a brand new option to the countries and nations that wish to accelerate development while maintaining independence.” The Chinese people will work with the people around the world to build a community of shared future for mankind and create a brighter tomorrow for humanity.
The editorial called on the Chinese people to “unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses,’ maintain ‘four confidences,’ achieve ‘two defends,’” and “create a greater miracle in the new long march of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!”
Qiushi Editorial Board: Promote A Great Social Revolution through the Party’s Great Self-Revolution
10.2 On the 70th anniversary of the PRC, Qiushi’s editorial board published an analysis of an essay written by Xi Jinping. Entitled “Consistently Promoting the New Great Project of Party Construction,” the essay draws conclusions about how the CCP can successfully maintain power from the rise and fall of ancient and modern regimes in China and abroad.
1. Break the Historical Cycle through Self-Revolution
Reviewing Chinese history, Xi concluded that feudalistic dynasties could not escape the historical cycle of rise and fall because they could not resolve their problems by themselves. Xi laid out “four not easies” (四个不容易) that every regime faces: after achieving success, it is not easy to be vigilant in times of prosperity or to maintain the mentality of the beginning; after taking power, it is not easy to maintain frugality and restraint; in times of peace and prosperity, it is not easy to strictly manage officials and prevent corruption; in moments of major change, it is not easy to go along with the tide and conform to popular sentiment.
Accordingly, the Party has prescribed “three points” of requirements for cadres to strictly manage themselves: first, do not deviate from the people and always accept the people’s supervision; second, do not be arrogant or self-satisfied and always struggle arduously; third, always guard against “sugar-coated bullets” and preserve the political essence. To achieve the “three points,” Xi has asked the leadership to cultivate and practice the “five competencies” (五个过硬): competency in belief, politics, responsibility, capability, and conduct.
2. Revolutionary Ideals are Higher than the Sky
Faith in Marxism, socialism, and communism is the “political soul” and “spiritual pillar” of the communists and building a strong Marxist ruling party must begin with building strong ideals and beliefs. This determines whether a communist can hold onto power in the face of major political tests, whether he can establish a firm sense of purpose, whether he can take responsibility for his work, whether he can shoulder a heavy burden in the face of urgent and dangerous tasks, whether he can resist the temptations of power, money, and beauty.
3. Clear Political Awareness
Political awareness must be reflected through action and the political capability of leading cadres. Party-building must ensure that the whole Pparty obeys the Central Committee and should maintain the authority of the Central Committee and unity of the leadership. The whole party must strengthen the “four consciousnesses,” uphold the “four confidences,” achieve the “two defends,” and maintain a high degree of consistency in political positions, political direction, political principles and political path with the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core.
4. Take on the Responsibility that Should be Taken On
Xi summarized his governing philosophy as, “serve the people and take on the responsibility that should be assumed.” Leading cadres must share the party’s burdens, serve the country, and do their duty for the people.
5. Proficiency Through Practice
Facing the arduous tasks of achieving reform, development, and stability, cadres should gain “new knowledge,” “new capabilities,” “new fields,” and “new perspectives.” Every comrade should be adept at ceaselessly studying and honing their capabilities. Leading cadres should strengthen their capacity for specialization, possess thorough, unified, and proficient knowledge, and be adept at grasping the circumstances and strategic development planning.
6. Improving Conduct is Always On the Road
Persistently improving conduct is a fundamental experience of managing and governing the party. The core problem of improving conduct is maintaining close ties between the party and the people. Xi stressed that leading cadres should practice the “three stricts and three honests,” which entail strictness in morals, power, and self-discipline, and honesty in making plans, business and behavior.
The article concluded that history has proven the CCP is “not only adept at smashing the old world, but also in constructing a new world. History will yet prove that the CCP, which is good at carrying out self-revolution and social revolution, will surely be able to unite and lead the Chinese people on the correct path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and unceasingly advance toward the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!”
United Front Work
Interview Video: Panchen Erdeni Qoigyijabu Expresses His Thoughts
9.30 The United Front Work Department’s WeChat account published an interview with the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama, Panchen Erdeni Qoigyi Gyaibo, also known as Gyaincain Norbu. The Panchen Lama said when he met Xi Jinping in 2015, Xi expressed his hope that the Panchen Lama would “play a vigorous role in guiding Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to socialist society,” which made him feel that “the mission is glorious, the responsibility is great.”
He said the most important tasks for Tibetan Buddhism today were “to defend the unification of the motherland, promote national unity, promote social harmony and stability, and elevate people’s spiritual state and moral level.”
He also said that under the leadership of the CCP throughout 70 years of history, people of all ethnicities have “achieved the great leap from standing up and getting rich to getting stronger,” and expressed his belief that “under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, our future is bright, and our tomorrow is glorious.”
Party Discipline
Former All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives Head and Party Leadership Group Deputy Secretary Liu Shiyu Given Two-Year Probation and Dismissed from Office
10.4 The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and National Supervision Commission (NSC) concluded their investigation of former All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives Head Liu Shiyu (刘士余) and determined that he had “seriously violated the Party’s political discipline and rules” and “committed duty-related violations.” Considering that Liu turned himself in, his punishment was reduced to a two-year probation from the Party and removal from office.
Central Military Commission
PLA Daily Editorial: Stride Forward on a New Journey of Strengthening National Defense and the Armed Forces
10.1 In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, PLA Daily issued an editorial praising the achievements of the PRC over the past 70 years, saying that “the Chinese people have stood up, and the Chinese nation has finally ushered in the dawn of rebirth from the ashes” and that “the face of the party, the face of the country, the face of the people, the face of the military and the face of the Chinese nation have experienced unprecedented change.” These changes “amply show that only the CCP can lead China; only socialism can save China; only reform and opening Up can develop China, socialism, and Marxism; only the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics can lead China to become prosperous, rich, and powerful.”
The article also praised the progress of the military, saying that it has “increased its level of revolutionization, modernization, and standardization,” progressively unified its branches, fundamentally achieved “mechanization,” and accelerated toward informatization of the armed forces. It said that since the 18th Party Congress, Xi Jinping has made national defense and military construction part of his scheme for the country’s modernization and the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” and that the military “has made important contributions to defending national sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Looking to the future, “our army, as a people’s army under the absolute leadership of the Party, must obey and serve the Party’s historic mission, grasp the requirements of the national security strategy, earnestly take on the New Era mission and tasks assigned by the Party and the people, provide strategic support for the consolidation of the CCP leadership and our country’s socialist system, provide strategic support for the defense of national sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity, provide strategic support for the expansion of our country’s overseas interests, [and] provide strategic support for the advancement of world peace and development.”
PLA Daily further publicized the anniversary with a series of commentator articles (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3).
International Liaison Work
Song Tao: Constantly Promote Innovation in the Theory and Practice of Party External Work
9.28 People’s Daily published an article by International Department Head Song Tao (宋涛), calling for constantly promoting innovation in the theory and practice of the Party’s external (international) work.
He pointed out that the party’s external work has played “unique and important roles” in Chinese diplomacy and manifested “unique advantages” in guiding international politics. The party’s external work has played an “outstanding and effective role” in serving the party and country’s core tasks.
He also discussed the constant theoretical innovation regarding the Party’s external work throughout history. Since the 18th Party Congress, Song wrote, “the theoretical innovation of the party’s external work has entered a new phase.” It moved forward by “clearly setting the mission objectives,” “elucidating unique advantages,” “developing principles of party-to-party relations for the new era,” and “demonstrating the principles of external work.”
Lastly, he called on “initiating the new phase of external work for the new era.” In doing so, he emphasized: “assisting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by externally propagating externally Xi Jinping thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era;” “promoting the construction of a new type of international relations through a new type of party-to-party relations;” “establishing a community with a shared future for mankind by implementing the missions and responsibilities of a major power and a major party;” “protecting national sovereignty, security, and development interests through cooperation and struggle;” and “grasping international circumstances with correct view on history, the general situation, and roles.”
Organization Work
9.30 Chen Jian (陈健) was appointed deputy auditor general of the National Audit Office.