Tiananmen Square in Beijing has over the years been a signature of Chinese power, where numerous military parades and celebrations have taken place by Xi’s. It was student-led protests on 4 June 1989 that the PLA crushed. Replaced today by frequent military parades on National Day, showcasing the might of the country. The last parade under him was in October 2019, another to mark the 70th anniversary of World War II was in September 2015.
But October 1st, 2024, saw no spectacular events in central Beijing. Tiananmen Square, a place for great celebrations, was mute. It was lined with flowers and flags, but with no parades, no fanfare, and no media coverage of China’s military might. The government has not said when the next parade will take place, even though 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of modern China’s founding.
This lack of a grand display is symbolic of the challenges China and Xi Jinping go through. For, in 2019, China was right in the middle of a “golden era” under the leadership of Xi. The whole world seemed to buckle to the will of China, and its future seemed unstoppable. But just some months later, the global outbreak of COVID-19 hit, and China faced harsh lockdowns. The pandemic made Xi’s government look fallible; with poor planning at hand, wide contagion followed.
Since then, China has only struggled to catch its breath. Xi’s speech at a banquet on September 30, 2024, spoke volumes about the mood of the ruling party. Full of imagery-“stormy seas,” “preparing for rainy days”-Xi’s words reflected the country’s woes. Xi said the party derives its legitimacy from rapid economic development and social stability, and both pillars are weakening.
Xi’s address spoke to “Chinese-style modernization” and how that will steer the country to strength. But the only recipe from the government is more control and allegiance to Xi’s rule. As the country grapples with the worsening economic and social conditions, the party insists the future lies in loyalty to Xi alone.
While it did have a considerable share of Taiwan, X signaled that the mainland and Taiwan are inseparable. “The complete reunification of our motherland is inevitable. We can no longer allow old ways of thinking that divide us to hold back the noble and great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” he said, disregarding all calls for peaceful relations. The hardline stance comes after the recent military drills of the PLA close to Taiwan, which Beijing said had been a reaction to Taiwan’s refusal of China’s “olive branch.” Taipei lashed out at the military exercise as provocative.
Xi’s closing remarks spoke of “unpredictable risks and challenges,” hence reflected no confidence at all. Perhaps this lack of optimism is the explanation for celebrating the National Day in such a low-key way. It was a smaller and less grand celebration than expected. The 75th anniversary of China warranted festivity, but the mood was sober.
Few would dispute the view either inside or outside the country that, as China marks its 75th anniversary, little was there to celebrate this year. The seriousness of the challenges facing China is getting increasingly difficult to deny-no matter what the official rhetoric insists.
ANI