As the Communist Party marks its 90th anniversary with lavish events, there are signs of increasing public annoyance about corruption allegations
NEAR THE STARBUCKS cafe and the Zara clothes shop, in an alley off a refurbished shopping precinct in downtown Shanghai, stands the building where 90 years ago the Chinese Communist Party held its first congress.
Cadres have come from far and wide on a pilgrimage to Xintiandi, the former French Concession area of Shanghai, where on July 1st, 1921, 13 communists officially held their first national congress to mark the birth of the party that has overseen China’s ascent to become the world’s second-largest economy. It has lifted millions out of poverty, put men into space and dramatically boosted China’s international standing.
But China’s rise under the Communist Party has come at the expense of individual freedoms: no dissent is allowed, and some believe that rising wealth could undo authoritarian rule in China.
The hardcore Marxist-Leninist principles of the heady early days have transformed into socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is how the party describes its ideology of freewheeling capitalism matched with iron authoritarian rule.
The party is woven into the fabric of Chinese society. To many it is an inconvenience but a necessary evil that has secured stability in a country of 1.3 billion people. Few truly love the party but, similarly, not many people are openly critical of its achievements.
This is partially because dissent could get them into trouble, but it’s not just that. People are very open with their opinions in China these days, and you get a sense that Chinese people have an ambivalent relationship with the party. “I felt a kind of distance even though I’m a party member,” said Han Yueli, a 30-year-old.
“Me and my friends, we never talk about party things, history or politics at all. It’s something that relates to our life, but is far beyond our life. I can hardly feel it except some activities I have to join as a party member organised by my company,” she said.
Last year the number of party members swelled to 80.3 million, an increase of more than two million from 2009. Only 18 million of the members are women.
The party started with 50 members, rising to four and a half million when the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949. Last year, three million people joined the party.
A lot of these members seem to be here in Xintiandi to view an exhibition in the original meeting room of the party which showcases years of struggle and revolutionary fervour, mostly orchestrated by the Great Helmsman, Mao Zedong.
During those 90 years, the party has followed an incredible arc, from the era of Mao, which persecuted “capitalist roaders” during the Cultural Revolution, to the reforms of Deng Xiaoping and then the decision of Deng’s successor Jiang Zemin to allow entrepreneurs into the party.
“Although there are problems, there are unpleasant things, but we still need to support the party as Chinese citizens. Because only the party can give us this stable life,” said one man.
Some events to celebrate the anniversary are straight out of the propaganda handbook. There has been a lot of singing to mark the event, and a particular favourite is Without the Communist Party, There Would Be No New China. At an event in Beijing, 90 ministers and deputy ministers sang a red song chorus – patriotic songs with propaganda elements – to mark the anniversary. "It is a rare chance for 90 ministry-level officials to join a singing performance. This shows that all of them attach great importance to the party's birthday," Li Fangfang, a 57-year-old woman in the audience from the State Forestry Administration, enthused. Meanwhile, the choir of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was singing Sky Road, which commemorates the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railway.
Online, 67.2 million Chinese webizens have wished the party a happy birthday, and more than 500,000 have taken part in a party history contest on Weibo, China’s version of Facebook, which, like YouTube and Twitter, is banned in China.
“It’s a profound truth expressed through the plainest words. It’s what ordinary people feel during our daily life. It’s built upon CPC members’ own theories and practices. In predicaments, it unites us; in hard work, it encourages us; in victory, it leads us forward,” one online commentator wrote on 163.com.
The party’s resilience is impressive. Under Mao, China endured disasters such as the 1958 Great Leap Forward agricultural reform. This resulted in a three-year famine during which an estimated 30 million died.
To ensure its grip on power stays firm, the Communist Party has ruled out anything that might resemble multiparty democracy.
Probably the biggest beef that people have with the party in China is that some members are corrupt. Graft is the biggest threat and the leadership is constantly announcing plans for better supervision of cadres. The party is certainly worried about corruption. Graft appears to be getting worse, and the Beijing leaders are worried it could threaten political stability.
Wu Yuliang, deputy secretary of the party’s powerful administrative body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said 146,517 people were given disciplinary punishments last year and 5,373 were transferred to judicial agencies for criminal proceedings.
Clampdowns on corruption have become an annual event, but it is proving difficult to shake bribery among cadres.
Wu said investigations had paid special attention to embezzlement and bribery by officials; breach of discipline and violation of laws in key sectors; and abuse of power and corruption cases related to serious accidents and mass incidents.
Last year China experienced 280,000 of what Beijing calls “mass incidents”, including petitions, demonstrations and strikes, both peaceful and violent. These were largely linked to anger about corruption and other forms of abuse of power such as illegal land seizures. The figure marks a steep rise from 2005, when there were 87,000 incidents.
A major part of the anniversary celebrations is the propaganda film Beginning of the Great Revival, which features 170 stars, including Hong Kong actors Chow Yun-fat and Andy Lau, and follows the events that led to the founding of the party.
Communist purists are annoyed by a scene in the film in which Mao Zedong is given a gold Omega watch by his girlfriend. Use of the Swiss brand seems quite a leap from the revolutionary spirit that inspired the Long March.
There was also some anger in the US that the film was being sponsored by General Motors, which was bailed out with US government cash two years ago. The irony of Cadillacs being involved in a film about the Communist Party says a lot about China today.
Despite these setbacks, confidence is riding high among the party faithful, given that the economy continues to expand and China’s influence continues to grow.
“Over the last 90 years, especially the last 30 years of reform and opening up, we have made major achievements. This is something the world basically recognises,” Li Zhongjie, a senior figure at the party’s History Research Centre, said recently. “The Communist Party has built China to what it is today.”
The irony of Cadillacs being involved in a film about the Communist Party says a lot about China today
