Ninety Nine Years of Communist Party of China

By Rai Babar Ali

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By Rai Babar Ali

The Communist Party of China, originally based on Lenin’s theory of vanguard party  was founded in July, 1921 when western ideologies like anarchism and Marxism intruded in Chinese intellects. Li Dazhao, a leading public advocate of Lenin’s Bolshevik revolution, endured a new wave of cultural movement in China. Initially the dogfight between KMT and Communist party was due to foreign intervention in China’s hemisphere. After exhausting civil war and bloody march against warlords of China and KMT leadership, CPC established a tight grip over mainland China. A democratic centralism was use to organize the revolutionaries in line with communism. Throughout the its rule, CPC has faced several challenges at home and abroad. It dealt with all the challenges by visionary leaderships. The turning point for China’s Middle Kingdom dream was the blessing of Mao Zedong becoming in charge of CPC in 1945. Mao was the first to announce at Beijing Square before massive crowd the establishment of Peoples Republic of China. After inception, China faced looming threats internally and externally.

The internal and external enemies collaborated to thwart the upcoming threat in the region. To overcome this epic scenario, western powers supported KMT to establish stronghold and contain communist factions in political affairs of China. Another unfortunate scenario during world war two was the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. KMT didn’t fight well during the war because its army was lacking professionalism as well as fighting within. During 1960s, the party experienced separation from communist party of Soviet Union over the issue of ideological thoughts. Rest of the CPC history, it established itself as a sole entity to deal with all the challenges China has been facing. What CPC has followed? It seems an amalgamation of confusionist thoughts, communism, and neoliberal ideas to manage the contesting affairs of the state. The sacred vow during the Mao’s March was the pretext of confusionist ideas and the glory of Middle Kingdom which endured a favorable support by the masses. After taking control, Mao followed the Marxist-Leninist version to adjust the power vacuum.

The major shift in the history of modern China came druing Deng Xiaoping era. During his premiership, China aligned itself with the global system. Its economy witnessed an upward slide. Deng Xiaoping said, “it is time for us to learn from the advanced countries. We have sent many people abroad to familiarize themselves with the outside world. China cannot develop by closing its doors, sticking to the beaten track and being-self-complacent”.

The CPC as totality of democratic centralism has power to revert the decisions of any authority in China. It has specialized officials who runs the directive principles of the state. Inspired by the confusionist pacifist strategic culture, CPC leadership has followed two approaches, pessimist and optimist in nature. First, pessimist in nature is driven out of the parabellum strategy which based on Mao’s barrel of gun conception and the real politik. Its roots could be traced out by Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Deception is the core as Bhattacharyya explained it well in the following words, “All warfare is based on deception. Hence when able to attack we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder and crush them”.  Second, the optimist in nature is driven by CPC to maintain a peaceful coexistence at international environment could harbor a prosperous world. This notion came to light after the demise of Mao. Huiuin Feng has pointed out that most of the successor of Mao were moderate. The effectiveness in CPC control over the Chinese hemisphere can be easily measured through a comparative study of China’s alignment with global system and Soviet Union’s glasnost and peretroika.

The General Secretary of CPC is supreme authority. All the subservient work at its discretion. But General Secretary has always worked with the CPC manifesto. In contemporary scenario, China is rising exponentially in terms of economy, military, political and social cohesion. The only driving force behind this marvelous achievements is CPC. Its manifesto endured non-aggression, non-intervention, territorial integrity and mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits, peaceful coexistence while dealing the state affairs.

The ninety nine years journey of Communist Party of China make it one of the largest party in the world to have such a status. If China has climbed the mountains peace, progress, and prosperity the sole responsible entity is Communist Party of China. Throughout history, It has been facing Challenges by western powers at doors. The eventual rise in China’s power has signaled the power shift from west to east.  Many contenders are in line whether its One Belt One Road or several economic institutions established by China and its allies. Scholars are coining the term “Chinese Century” only because CPC has invested blood and sweat to achieve this status.