Overcoming extreme backwardness 75 yrs ago, China has 'risen to 2nd largest economy of the world'

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* 

On October 1, 1949, the revolutionary people of China established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) by defeating Western imperialism, Japanese colonialism, and Chinese feudal warlords who unleashed a ‘white terror’ on Chinese people, communists and revolutionaries. 

Even after the defeat of the Japanese military occupation, American imperialists supported the so-called Nationalist Government of Chiang Kai-shek in an attempt to defeat the communists and undermine the victory of the Chinese revolution. 

Imperialist aggression against China continues to this day, as the Chinese people prepare to celebrate seventy-five years of their revolutionary republic, while progressing along the path of revolution, reform, redistributive development centered around people. 

The peace, progress, and prosperity in China define its development path, shaped by the resilient and revolutionary spirit of its people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), whose motto is 'Serve the People’. 

The journey from the colonial period of shame and humiliation under Japanese military occupation in the 19th century to China's rise as the second-largest economy in the world today is a testament to the resilience and dignity of the Chinese people. It is celebration of abilities of Chinese people and their indomitable spirit.

What have China and its people achieved over the last seventy-five years?

In 1949, China was economically backward, society was rife with the endemic of feudalism, and the people suffered from poverty, hunger, and homelessness. 

Over the past seven and a half decades, the Chinese people have transformed their agrarian society into an industrial powerhouse, producing quality goods and efficient services for the world. Unprecedented economic growth, coupled with redistributive development policies, has led to the complete eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. 

Equal access to food, education, and healthcare has contributed to the development of a scientifically advanced society in China, with a higher standard of living, while capitalist countries are facing everyday living crises. 

The Chinese people have built technologically advanced infrastructure, new cities, ports, airports, and high-speed rail networks that are more efficient than their capitalist counterparts in America and Europe. 

China's lunar and Mars missions exemplify the significant progress the country has made in space exploration and scientific innovation. Despite this rapid modernisation, the resilient Chinese people have not forgotten to reclaim their cultural heritage, celebrating their diversity through art, culture, film, music, literature, language, and fashion.

The Chinese policy of peaceful coexistence and a collaborative approach to building a global community with a shared and sustainable future, aimed at addressing global challenges, offers an alternative to a divided world plagued by imperialist wars and capitalist conflicts.  

Phrases like Chinese goods are cheap an of low-quality, Chinese virus, expansionist China, are meant to undermine the country's achievements

The Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI) are examples of Chinese approach to global peace and development based on solidarity, cooperation and collaboration. Such an alternative is not acceptable to American and European hegemons, as it fundamentally opposes their capitalist interests under the guise of democracy dominated by markets, where the majority of people are marginalised on a daily basis. 

The Chinese vision for global peace and solidarity stands in stark contrast to the confrontational, dominating, competitive, and rent-seeking capitalist approach of these so-called capitalist countries, which prioritise large corporations while people suffer from daily crises.

Therefore, there is relentless propaganda against China and its hardworking people. Phrases like "Chinese goods are cheap", "Chinese low-quality products", "Chinese cheap labour", "Chinese virus", "Chinese human rights violations", “expansionist China”, and "Chinese domination and dictatorship" are part of a propaganda campaign designed to undermine the achievements of the Chinese people and their revolution. 

The Chinese alternative is an anathema to the racial capitalism that dominates Western development, where the budget for war is prioritised over budgets for education and health. In China, the state works for the people and their welfare, whereas in capitalist countries, governments serve corporate interests for profits. 

It is time to expose the hypocrisies of the West and celebrate the achievements of the Chinese people over the last seventy-five years. These achievements offer hope for working people around the world. 

Thus, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China is becoming a global event for working people. It is milestone in the revolutionary history of working-class achievements. 

Viva la Chinese people!

Vive la Révolution Chinoise!

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*Scholar based in UK