Communist Party of China turns 100

Written By: - Date published: 11:59 pm, June 30th, 2021 - 59 comments
Categories: China - Tags:

July 1st this year marks the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai in 1921. It is a date worth commemorating as while the Party is not well understood, its positive achievements have been outstanding.

In 2004 I participated in a Labour Party delegation to China at the invitation of the CCP. In our formal meeting in Beijing, Vice-Minister Zhang Zhijun informed us that the CCP wished to learn from us about “party-building.” I remember thinking we have a known membership somewhere north of 10,000, you have a membership of 90 million, and you want to learn from us about party-building!

But the truth of the matter was that they did want to learn. We answered innumerable questions, many notes were taken, reports were given and we got to know a number of highly intelligent and cultured people. My first impression was that the Communist Party of China was a massive learning institution, and everything I have seen and heard since reinforces that impression.

As many historians of China have commented, the CPC is in many ways the latest iteration of the mandarinate, China’s millennial-old governance system. Just as in the past, admission is by examination. Singaporean scholar and diplomat Khishore Mahbubani in his book ‘Has China Won?’ says the CCP should rather be called the “Chinese Civilisation Party.” I think he has a point. Chinese entrepreneur and social commentator Eric Li describes it as ‘meritocratic governance,’ with a stress on competence.

Under Deng Xiaoping China opened up to the world in the 1970s but did not follow the mantras of the neoliberal west. It still believes in state control of the financial system, state-owned enterprises, and five-year plans. These plans are not just wish-lists, they are expected to be implemented. They are formed after extensive and intensive discussion at all levels in the learning system that is the Party, and promotion is dependent on proof of ability to see them delivered. And the evidence is that they work, which is why they pose such a challenge to the west.

Many eastern cultures, and this is certainly true of China, prioritise communal well-being rather than individual well-being. China’s goal in its 14th five-year plan is to deliver a ‘moderately prosperous society’ for all, rather than one where supposedly anyone can get ahead on their own. This appears to be appreciated by Chinese people. A 2016 survey by the Ash school at Harvard University found that 95.5% of respondents were either ‘relatively satisfied’ or highly satisfied’ with their government. Here we test the ‘right-track/wrong-track.’ The latest Roy Morgan poll has us at 62.5% ‘right-track’ and 28.5 ‘wrong-track.’.

At the inauguration of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 the very first campaign was one “to sweep away illiteracy.” One expert has described the rise of literacy in China to near universal in 2015 as “perhaps the single greatest educational achievement in human history.” Another great historical achievement of Communist party rule has been to lift 800 million people out of poverty, according to the World Bank. This year Xi Jinping announced that China has eliminated absolute poverty in the nation of 1.4 billion.

China’s modern infrastructure is stunning. Thirteen years ago I travelled by train from Beijing to Tianjin and watched the speedometer in the bulkhead climb to 350kph without a ripple on the surface of my tea. That was one of the earliest of their high-speed trains; now a total of 37,900km of such criss-cross the country.

In my opinion it is crucially important that we better understand and indeed come to appreciate the many positive and indeed unique elements of this millennial civilisation, the longest continuity on our planet by far. It has a turbulent history but a lasting culture, and its encounter with the Anglophone and European world in the last two hundred years, from the Opium Wars to the destruction of the summer palace in the aftermath of the Boxer rebellion, has not been peaceful. Its rise now is spectacular.

All of which is not to say that everything in China is perfect. And it is currently the target of a massive demonising psyop driven out of the US and supported by 5Eyes which I will comment on in subsequent posts. But because the CPC government is a learning institution dedicated to continuous self-improvement it has a capacity to rapidly learn from its mistakes, as its reaction to the corona-virus showed.

And we need to better appreciate not just China. Barack Obama’s “Pivot to Asia” and Boris Johnson’s “Tilt to Asia” merely serve to signify that the world’s centre of gravity has shifted to the South and East. This is our region as well, but there are very few Asian voices in our media and we would do well to listen to some of them, such as this article from Sudheendra Kulkarni. Our intelligence sources might have five eyes but they only speak with one tongue.

One can steadfastly remain a proponent of ‘socialism with New Zealand characteristics’ yet know that there is much that we too can learn if we recognise the good and appreciate the scale of the achievements of the hundred-year old Communist Party of China, governing their country “with Chinese characteristics” to its people’s broad satisfaction for the past 72 years.

59 comments on “Communist Party of China turns 100 ”

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  1. gsays 1
    1 July 2021 at 7:47 am

    Thanks Mike for this, it makes a change from 'China bad mmmkay' rhetoric.

    I have recently finished listening to The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester.

    A remarkable man (“scientist, polyglot, traveller, diplomat, Christian, socialist, exponent of free love, nudist, morris dancer”), an incredible body of work- Science and Civilisation in China about a mysterious country.

    There is a long list of Chinese firsts- gunpowder, massive waterworks and dams, printing press and the stirrup.

    A ripping yarn.
    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/sep/28/biography3

  2. esoteric pineapples 2
    1 July 2021 at 9:04 am

    Good to have something positive said about the Chinese government. The level of anti-China sentiment in New Zealand is astounding. I know a range of people, mostly to the left of the political spectrum and nearly all of them see China as a military threat or part of some grand conspiracy. I think this bias at best and racist at worse.

    • RedLogix 2.1
      1 July 2021 at 9:10 am

      Here in Australia we have lived with two separate Chinese families (don't ask how, life as a homeless landlord gets weird at times) – and both have been vociferously anti-CCP.

      Now is that racism or just irrational bias? Because I thought only white people could be racist.

      • esoteric pineapples 2.1.1
        1 July 2021 at 9:42 am

        My local sushi shop man is from Shanghai. He told me he loves his government because it made it possible for him to do well enough for himself to move to New Zealand. The reason he came to New Zealand is because he wanted to live somewhere that was more rural. Furthermore, he says New Zealanders only hear negative things about China in the press. He also says that the United States is trying to undermine China by its involvement with the Hong Kong protests and Xinjiang province. He is no radical intellectual Communist. That's just how he reads it.

        I was referring to non-Chinese New Zealanders in my comments so I don't see how the racism or bias of the Chinese families you know comes into the argument, They obviously dislike the Chinese government for other reasons.

        • RedLogix 2.1.1.1
          1 July 2021 at 9:56 am

          They obviously dislike the Chinese government for other reasons.

          So when white people dislike the CCP it's 'racism', but when Chinese people do the same it's 'other reasons'. Well yes I guess that does answer my question.

          • Chris 2.1.1.1.1
            1 July 2021 at 12:59 pm

            Doesn't it depend on what it is you're criticising the Chinese government for doing? There's a lot of criticism, for example, of governments that haven't outlawed genital mutilation? Is it racist to criticise a government for not doing this? Is it racist to criticise the Chinese government for its sweat shops, its behaviour towards Hong Kong and its citizens? It's treatment of its own citizens for criticising the Chinese government, for its known human rights abuses etc?

    • Peter ChCh 2.2
      1 July 2021 at 9:53 am

      Racist because we oppose a regime that politically imprisons its own people?

      The CCP spreads its control and lies throughout the world using the government owned and controlled apps like Weixin/WeChat, Tic Toc and the like. The west has no such freedom within China. Try travelling to China and accessing Facebook, western newspaper websites, Twitter and so on. Try actually going there and travelling to the autonomous areas, like Xinjiang. You will not be allowed to, much less attend a mosque or in some places even a church.

      I get it. Some extreme leftists still see communism as all being a creation of nasty old USA. Its not. It is an evil regime.

      Yes, incredible things were achieved economically, and Maos introduction of Simplified Chinese reduced illiteracy quickly. But even Hitler achieved incredible things, as did Mussolini and Franco; but at huge cost.

      And as for racism, are you serious? The most racist societies on earth are probably Japan and China, a consequence of their almost total isolation until very recent times. Han are taught they are the only 'pure' race on earth and have the longest continuous society on earth. Thats pretty damn racist.
      And do some reading in African media in the countries where China is resource scouring via its Belt and Road Inititive. The local people are subjected to incredible racism from the Chinese workers.

      Some commentators on here really need to travel to China, learn to read Chinese media, work for extended time in China, or even just get to know Chinese in more than a superficial way before pushing this nonsense.

      And for the record, I am married to a Chinese who I met when I was working there in Jinan. I can speak Mandarin, although reading is so so.

      • Brigid 2.2.1
        1 July 2021 at 12:04 pm

        " Try actually going there and travelling to the autonomous areas, like Xinjiang. You will not be allowed to, much less attend a mosque or in some places even a church."

        And that is utter rubbish. In fact you are lying. See if you can provide just one account of a normal citizen or tourist being denied entry to Xinjiang.

        There are plenty of reports from people who have visited Xinjiang.

        Here's one

        As for not being allowed to attend a mosque, what a stupid statement. For what reason would that be so?

  3. Tiger Mountain 3
    1 July 2021 at 9:45 am

    Well said Mike. China bashing is way too prevalent in NZ, as per Ann Marie Brady and others utterances. Various institutes linked to NATO and US Imperialism show the geo politics involved.

    And while the CCP may have moved on from classic Marxism/Leninism they have achieved a hell of a lot.

    • Peter ChCh 3.1
      1 July 2021 at 10:42 am

      You mean the Great Leap Forward, Culture Revolution, Tiananmen Square and other related massacres, blocking of outside news and websites and apps, CCP control of media, Concentration Camps in Xinjiang, annexation of Xizang/Tibet, banning of Islam, imprisonment and torture of Falun Dafa members, forced abortion until recent times of 2nd pregnancy, routine appalling Human Rights abuses, the promotion of Cult Leaders (Xi especially)?

      Yes, I guess the Chinese Imperial Empire has done a lot in 72 years. But hell, lets just slag off the US and blame them for everything like we are still first year Sociology students.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 3.1.1
        1 July 2021 at 11:49 am

        Hear hear, Peter.

        I lived and worked in Xinjiang for over three years earlier this century and I can attest to the brainwashing of the Chinese people.

        The first thing I was told before beginning English lessons with my class was not to ever, ever mention the three 'Ts'. Tibet. Taiwan and Tiananmen Square.

        I couldn't even access wikipedia in China, which made it a little difficult at times to prepare lessons – other than those on the prescribed lines.

        In this country I taught at a language school in Christchurch. I went into my classroom one day to see a Chinese student, having removed a world map from the wall, stabbing a compass point into Taiwan. When I asked him what he thought he was doing, he told me Taipei is not a capital of an independent country,

        I was subject to disparaging remarks on an almost daily basis, the Chinese are among the most racist people in the world, and arrogant too, with their 5000 years of history.

        Having said all the above, I met some truly lovely Chinese men and women during my three years – but wouldn't give tuppence for the CCP.

  4. esoteric pineapples 4
    1 July 2021 at 9:50 am

    "Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Danny Haiphong, a contributing editor at the Black Agenda Report, about his recent two week trip to China. Danny discusses what he learned about China's economic model, it's efforts to reduce poverty nationwide, and his experience in Xinjiang, the province where western media, politicians, and human rights groups claim Beijing is housing millions of Muslims in concentration camps. Did Danny see any evidence of this policy, and what do average Chinese people think about the claims?"

    • Phil 4.1
      1 July 2021 at 10:38 am

      … his recent two week trip to China. Danny discusses what he learned…

      Two weeks.

  5. Ad 5
    1 July 2021 at 10:17 am

    It would be churlish to deny China and its single ruling party now has a successful country. But one has to ask:

    Would China be just as successful if the CCP had instead enabled democracy and civic freedom to evolve, rather than crushing of civic freedom?

    The best counterfactual against the CCP's total political control is is Taiwan. Taiwan, just like China after 1949, went through 40 years of single-party rule.

    But in the late 1980s, at the same time as unrest was building across both mainland China and the Soviet bloc, Taiwan began to engage hard with democratic reforms. They had their first properly contested Presidential election 7 years after the Tianenmen Square massacre in 1989 and the fall of the Soviet Union.

    China's Communist Party and Taiwan's electoral system at that point diverged hard.

    China's Communist Party delivered autocracy and wealth, Taiwan's political system delivered civic freedom and wealth.

    The crushing of civic freedom by the CCP was unnecessary for the prosperity of the Chinese people.

    • Brigid 5.1
      1 July 2021 at 12:39 pm

      Here's the answer

      "The survey team found that compared to public opinion patterns in the U.S., in China there was very high satisfaction with the central government. In 2016, the last year the survey was conducted, 95.5 percent of respondents were either “relatively satisfied” or “highly satisfied” with Beijing."

      https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/07/long-term-survey-reveals-chinese-government-satisfaction/

      Chinese are obviously rather satisfied with their government it seems so who are you to suggest they should not be?

      • Ad 5.1.1
        1 July 2021 at 1:24 pm

        The survey did not measure comparative satisfaction between one kind of party or political system to another. So it's not relevant.

        A survey comparing relative satisfaction between Taiwan and mainland China would be useful, or between Hong Kong and mainland China, or Tibet and mainland China – now that would be useful.

        Or even a survey about whether mainland Chinese would like a choice in who governs them. That would be interesting.

        Neither of those views possible to be gauged however in an autocracy like China.

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 5.1.2
        3 July 2021 at 1:20 am

        …and Bashar al-Assad got 97.6% of the vote in the 2007 presidential referendum. And Kim Jong Il got 99.9% of the vote in his 2009 election…

        Despots and police states often have widespread public "approval", at least in public forums. Agree or be killed.

  6. Stephen D 6
    1 July 2021 at 11:19 am

    I can't help thinking if we held the USA up to the same scrutiny as we do China, they wouldn't look so good.

    • Tiger Mountain 6.1
      1 July 2021 at 11:45 am

      Indeed, the 1921 attack in Tulsa on middle class African Americans trying to “live the dream” was but one more outrage in a nation founded on genocide, land theft, and subjugation of the indigenous people, and an early economy based on forced slave labour!

      The later economy used segregation and lynching on blacks and violent union busting on working class people of what ever stripe. From Reagan smashing the air controllers union, neo liberalism and division has been the tool to keep people in line since.

      American infrastructure is literally crumbling as China goes from strength to strength with new cities and public transport and commerce. How many uninvited military invasions or interventions has China mounted on foreign territory compared to the US? How many military bases on foreign soil does China operate compared to USA?

      China is not nirvana but does seem to be improving the lot of much of its population.

      • Ad 6.1.1
        1 July 2021 at 12:20 pm

        Xi has suppressed any Tianenmen commemoration. For years.

        Biden commemorated at Tulsa, with Tulsa massacre survivors and descendents.

        Sunlight.

        • Sabine 6.1.1.1
          1 July 2021 at 12:25 pm

          yeah, a mere hundred years later. Date: May 31 – June 1, 1921 and it needed Trump and BLM to get to that.

          China will have their own days of reckoning.

        • Brigid 6.1.1.2
          1 July 2021 at 12:48 pm

          Commemoration for what?

          There was no 'massacre'.

          • Drowsy M. Kram 6.1.1.2.1
            1 July 2021 at 5:56 pm

            "No 'massacre'" – really Brigid? The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests were certainly no 'picnic' for the CCP, nor for the protestors who (tragically) lost their lives. Indeed, it's still no picnic for those Chinese who, to this day, wish to commemorate the protests/protestors.

            The protests started on April 15 and were forcibly suppressed on June 4 when the government declared martial law and sent the People's Liberation Army to occupy parts of central Beijing. Estimates of the death toll vary from several hundred to several thousand, with thousands more wounded.
            …
            Before his death in 1998, Yang Shangkun told army doctor Jiang Yanyong that June 4 was the most serious mistake committed by the Communist Party in its history, a mistake that Yang himself could not correct, but one that certainly will eventually be corrected.
            …
            Chen Xitong, the mayor of Beijing, who read the martial law order and was later disgraced by a political scandal, expressed regret in 2012, a year before his death, for the death of innocent civilians.
            …
            The CCP continues to forbid discussions about the Tiananmen Square protests, [and has] taken measures to block or censor related information, in an attempt to suppress the public’s memory of the Tiananmen Square protests. Textbooks contain little, if any, information about the protests. After the protests, officials banned controversial films and books and shut down many newspapers. Within a year, 12% of all newspapers, 8% of all publishing companies, 13% of all social science periodicals, and more than 150 films were either banned or shut down. The government also announced that it had seized 32 million contraband books and 2.4 million video and audio cassettes. Access to media and Internet resources about the subject are either restricted or blocked by censors,
            …
            Print media that contain references to the protests must be consistent with the government’s version of events. Domestic and foreign journalists are detained, harassed, or threatened, as are their Chinese colleagues and any Chinese citizens who they interview. Thus, Chinese citizens are typically reluctant to speak about the protests because of potentially negative repercussions.

            The CCP has faced huge challenges and pressure to modernise China, keep a lid on population growth, bring economic prosperity to the Chinese people, and maintain/enforce the unity of an ethnic and culturally diverse society. By and large they've made a passable fist of it, but of course there have been mistakes along the way – no leader or governing body is perfect.

            • McFlock 6.1.1.2.1.1
              1 July 2021 at 6:03 pm

              Flatted with an exchange student about 15 years ago. She had to ask me what had happened – all she'd been told back home was that "there had been some bad people causing disruption".

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 6.1.1.2.2
            3 July 2021 at 1:24 am

            "There was no 'massacre'. "

            A vile lie, in the same vein as holocaust denial.

            I had a close relative spending time in Tiananmen Square, including on the day of the massacre. There was definitely horrific slaughter by the Chinese military.

        • Adrian Thornton 6.1.1.3
          1 July 2021 at 1:02 pm

          Yeah he goes to Tulsa, so what, is China bombing black and brown people around the world today as we speak, causing untold death and misery through it's illegal sanctions?..no that is Biden and the USA…just victimizing and terrorizing black and brown people outside it's boarder now, is that better?

          Biden “Illegally” Bombs Iranian-Backed Militias in Syria, Jeopardizing Nuclear Talks with Tehran

          https://www.democracynow.org/2021/3/1/syrian_airstrikes_biden_administration

          US Sanctions on Venezuela Illegal Under UN, OAS and US Law

          https://www.telesurenglish.net/analysis/US-Sanctions-on-Venezuela-Illegal-Under-UN-OAS-and-US-Law-20190605-0031.html

          • Ad 6.1.1.3.1
            1 July 2021 at 1:17 pm

            We will probably never know the extent of CCP crimes in China – because it is an autocracy. We get great stories of US stupidity, as distinct from Chinese stupidity, because only the US allows its stupidity to be examined.

            Perfectly reasonable to ask whether the Chinese or United States systems deliver more for their respective peoples. But only Biden, not Xi, has asked that question.

            • Adrian Thornton 6.1.1.3.1.1
              1 July 2021 at 11:07 pm

              No, the entire world get to see quite clearly the brutality of the USA, because the USA is the country who is illegally bombing, sanctioning, meddling in elections and undermining other countries democracies right out in the open, because they can and they don't really give a fuck who knows…because who is going to stop them?

              Rumsfeld died today, he has the blood of over 200,000 innocent civilians on his hands, is a war criminal and terrorist….but he will probably be given a state funeral because he carried out American foreign policy exactly as he was employed to do.

      • lprent 6.1.2
        1 July 2021 at 12:46 pm

        <blockquote>
        American infrastructure is literally crumbling as China goes from strength to strength with new cities and public transport and commerce.
        </blockquote>

        Now that is a daft and completely irrelevant comment completely without context.

        Infrastructure has a lifetime. It falls apart over time. It displays a profound lack of understanding of infrastructure. When was the &#39;crumbling infrastructure&#39; that you&#39;re referring to laid down?

        Most of the US infrastructure was in the first part of the 20th century. The biggest transport programs happened in the 1930s through to the 1950s as they developed their roading network. Their city infrastructure is pretty damn old – it was mainly put in in the late 19th century and early 20th in their coastal cities. Most of it is heading into its expiring years and consequently needing repairs, upgrades, and outright replacement in situ.

        Most of the Chinese infrastructure, both transport and city has been put in since Deng took control in the 1980s. Most of it wasn&#39;t replacing what was there. It was largely greenfield. Of course it shouldn&#39;t be crumbling. It should be in the first third or quarter of it&#39;s lifecycle.

        By way of a local comparison.

        Auckland is now getting close to finishing the two expensive and painful decades of upgrading and replacing of transport, water, sewage, and storm water infrastructure that was laid down more than a century ago in the central city area.

        The work is slowly proceeding further out into the city through Mt Albert, Mt Roskill for the water systems. The CRL is now the pain point in the central area.

        The screaming pain of the process of having to do them in situ in blownfield sites has been deafening. We tore up Auckland streets over the last 20 years to decouple the sewerage and storm water systems, to replace 15 year old water pipes, etc. Or digging tunnels everywhere to allow public transport and relieve congestion. Not to mention the pain of paying for those upgrades in addition to expanding the population demanded by central government fiat.

        Wellington (a city currently developing the reputation of the city of shit in the streets), appears to be finally having to deal with its crumbling infrastructure. I&#39;m expect that whining about having to pay for it and live with it will be overwhelming over the next couple of decades.<br />
        <br />
        Christchurch was a bit more fortunate in that it wound up doing a lot of it over the last decade as they repaired the earthquake damage. A lot of the funds came from central government funds, and there was a much clearer reason to do it immediately and in a hurry.

        Basically the Chinese infrastructure will have the same problems as the US (and us). Because they started so much later in time in putting in infrastructure than us or the US, it just happens further in the future. But it is monumentally stupid of you to compare a brand new just built toy with something that has already been running for most of a century.

        • RedLogix 6.1.2.1
          1 July 2021 at 12:56 pm

          Absolutely agree. Comparing things that are at quite different phases of their lifestyle is very likely to be misleading.

          What could be added is that the general standard of materials, methods and engineering have also improved dramatically over the past century. Any built in the last few decades damn well should last a good deal longer.

          • lprent 6.1.2.1.1
            1 July 2021 at 2:05 pm

            Yeah, I saw some of the old fitted basalt stone block shapes come out of the holes when they were doing the separation of sewerage and storm sites in about 2007.

            Reminded me of film from the roman cloaca.

            • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 6.1.2.1.1.1
              2 July 2021 at 8:09 am

              I don't think, from my observation, that China does maintain its infrastructure all that well.

              When I lived in Urumqi in 2004 – I was housed in a huge block of flats, complete with ornamental gates a la arc de triomphe.

              In my experience, Chinese are notoriously bad drivers: some clown had knocked a few bricks off one corner of this arch.

              Ten years later, when I went back to have a 'nostalgic' look, nothing had been done to repair the damage.

              I could give many other examples: China is a country best viewed from a distance of five metres. Any closer and you can see the grime and neglect.

        • Tiger Mountain 6.1.2.2
          1 July 2021 at 1:57 pm

          Thanks for your insightful comments lprent.
          https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/17/us/crumbling-american-infrastructure/index.html

          The thing is the yanks have managed to transfer wealth “upstairs” on a massive scale to the tiny billionaire and squillionaire clique rather than rebuilding at scale, although President Biden has advocated a massive spend in the trillions.

          https://time.com/5888024/50-trillion-income-inequality-america/

          • lprent 6.1.2.2.1
            1 July 2021 at 2:17 pm

            Yes. That is all correct, and it is for the same basic reason that Wellington is blowing their sewerage pipes at present.

            And a major reason why Wellington has just voted in a (far too small) 13.5% rates rise.

            If I dug around on media I could dig up some of the reasonably recent horror stories for Shanghai I could dig up similar shitty stories in the old parts of the city (and just about every other old large city in China).

            But if I was going for vague idiotic slogan attacks on China, I'd just have to point out the air pollution levels, billionaires in China,

            But of course we know that you're so above fact-loose cheap and stupid attacks eh?

            FFS: Every country has problems with income inequalities and ageing infrastructure. Where are you going with this – proving that you can slogan with the cultural revolutionaries?

            • Ad 6.1.2.2.1.1
              1 July 2021 at 3:18 pm

              Only in November last year Auckland Council managed to (almost) complete the sewer and stormwater separation from everything flowing from the Ponsonby Road ridge through to Wynyard Point.

              Still won't be completed until the St Mary's Bay tunneling work is done.

              • lprent …
                2 July 2021 at 3:11 am

                Started in the late 90s as I remember it. Doing brownfield underground work is a long expensive and bloody tedious task. It isn't like the original work was particularly bad. It just wasn't designed for anything like the density and population levels that we have now.

                Has to be done. I remember getting really bad boils on my leg after swimming at Pt Chev back in the 1970s. Turned out subsequently that there had been a sewage overflow into the storm water system, which then poured into the harbour near Pt Chev beach. Still have the scars on my leg.

                They still have them occasionally around there – but at least they try to monitor for leakage these days.

            • Pierre 6.1.2.2.1.2
              3 July 2021 at 7:40 am

              Since we're arguing over infrastructure, I'd like to throw in a modern healthcare system. Take a look at 'hospital beds per 1,000 people' which climbed steadily in China from 1.99 in 2007 to 4.02 in 2016. With no major changes in population, they doubled the number of hospital beds in less than a decade.

              You're right to point out that it's easy to build new things, harder to maintain and upgrade what is already there. Those fresh hospitals filled with shiny modern equipment won't look so flashy in another fifty years.

              But see, all those hospitals were built during a global financial crisis, a period in which the unlucky victims of global capitalism were having their welfare systems forcibly privatised and dismantled by the financial institutions. If China was totally ruled by capitalist interests you just wouldn't see such massive dedication to 'unproductive' ventures like public healthcare.

    • Ad 6.2
      1 July 2021 at 12:21 pm

      USA with its massive msm and social media is the most scrutinized country on earth.

    • Gabby 6.3
      4 July 2021 at 6:00 pm

      They don't look too flash as it is.

  7. Byd0nz 7
    1 July 2021 at 12:22 pm

    Happy Birthday

    • Pierre 7.1
      3 July 2021 at 8:00 am

      Here's to another 100 years fighting for the working class! ✊

      For historical context, I recommend the film Founding of a Party (建党伟业) from 2011. I'm also really looking forward to the new party history film 1921 from the same director… as soon as the helpful Chinese netziens provide torrents with english subs.

  8. greywarshark 8
    1 July 2021 at 12:36 pm

    How long on average does it take any great idea that is fought for by concerned, driven, and usually idealistic people which succeeds to a large extent, to become taken-for-granted, ho hum, and white-anted by others who can see how to steer the ship in a different direction?

  9. Psycho Milt 9
    1 July 2021 at 12:45 pm

    Beats the hell out of me why it is that of the two major totalitarian ideologies of the C20th, fascism is now satisfactorily beyond the pale but the place is still littered with apologists for communism. It's disgusting.

  10. Adrian Thornton 10
    1 July 2021 at 1:06 pm

    Zizek unpacks the the unholy crossover of Communism and Capitalism in China…there is a good reason why John Key is so enamored with the Chinese system.

    Slavoj Zizek — Why China is the future of capitalism

    • Jenny how to get there 10.1
      2 July 2021 at 12:29 pm

      Politics is concentrated economics.

      The economic model of infinite growth on a finte planet, is often cited as the root cause of the resource crisis and the environmental and climate crisis.

      The economic model of infiinite growth that was adopted by the CCP, coupled with authoritarian rule, is a model not just enamoured by John Key but also Donald Trump and other right wing politicians.

      But this model of infinite growth is running up against the buffers of the natural world, it is also running up against the borders of rival economies.

      In the past to allow infinite growth to continue, the solution was to invade and take over other 'less developed' countries. This method of continuing infinite economic growh came to a crunch with the development of independence liberation movements in the subjugated countries. Not least China itself.
      These newly liberated countries embarked on their own experiments in infinite ecomonic growth, with varying levels of success. Most failed spectacularly. Some, tied their chariot to one or the other rival economic bloc, to become junior partners, and enjoyed moderate success.
      China, was unique in being able to colonise and expand into its vast hinterlands and treat them as internal vassal states. That process has now reached its limits too.
      Now we are seeing the rival ecomies of infinite growth, not just running up against the physical limits of the planet, but up against each other.

      Economic and environmental collapse and war is humanity's future, unless that is we can turn away from the economic model of infinite growth, for a steady state economic model of sustainability and climate justice.

  11. coreyjhumm 11
    1 July 2021 at 2:08 pm

    I read this with an open mind that while accepting although there has been some exceptional progress in the last twenty years ,that you as a labour party member would provide a critical analysis for all the positives with all the negatives.

    instead … I see an uncritical praise of a party that's history is red because of the blood of it's citizens that's policies over the years have killed millions in famines, take overs and authoritarian rule.

    It's human rights, slave labour, authoritarian control over it's citizens daily lives and thoughts that is engaged in genocide, organ black markets, suppression of democracy, violates international law, economically blackmails poor pacific nations, suppresses democracy, is openly trying to influence and control world governments, universities and media, it disappears the relatives and loved ones of any expat who speaks out and indeed disappears anyone inside china who speaks out.

    You praise 100 years of the party without mentioning the red army, mao, Taiwan or indeed hong Kong.

    I have to ask why? You're a member of a political movement that seeks solidarity with workers not rulers.

    China has indeed done good things and other imperial powers have done bad things too but this isn't about them this is about China…

    This is in no way a personal attack I'm just wondering why you've written an article telling us we should all be in awe with the last 100 years of the cpc and spoke in depth about all the good things and not one critical analysis of the bad things much like your last post on this blog about the same political party.

    If I were to do an essay on the new Zealand labour party it would be deeply critical as much as it would be supportive and if most people on the left were to do an essay on this particular party it'd be mostly scathing with a few bright lines.

    Of course you're entitled to your opinion but I'm struggling to understand how a member of trade unions and left wing workers party's has solidarity with an authorization party that has slave labour by focusing on its burgeoning bourgeoisie.

  12. Populuxe1 12
    1 July 2021 at 3:59 pm

    I mean, you hear about this sort of thing, but it's quite breathtaking when you see it done so brazenly and (almost entirely) uncritically.

  13. Stuart Munro 13
    1 July 2021 at 4:12 pm

    A party as large as the CCP is likely to have islands of pretty good, and pretty bad behaviour. I am concerned that Xi like his colleague Putin, has made himself president for life. I prefered Hu Jintao – a real hard worker.

    The civil service mandarin system, though it at least attracts educated place holders, has been associated, together with its exclusionary examination system, of a significant decline in outcomes – things like Chinese opera grew out other administrative forms.

    That said, there is much to learn from China, a heathily different perspective for reviewing our own systems of government for one thing.

  14. Jenny how to get there 14
    1 July 2021 at 4:47 pm

    CCP marks 100th anniversary with extravagant performance, awards for ‘ordinary heroes’

    Domestic News

    The Chinese Communist Party kicked off a week of centenary festivities with a fireworks-filled performance at the Beijing’s National Stadium and awards for “ordinary heroes” among its membership.

    Lucas Niewenhuis Published June 29, 2021

    …..Today, Xi spoke at an awards ceremony bestowing the “July 1 Medal” (七一勋章 qī yī xūnzhāng) on 29 CCP members. Per Xinhua, the recipients included:

    • Veterans of wars, including the Chinese People’s War of Liberation (the state media term for what is known internationally as the Chinese Communist Revolution) and the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (also known as the Korean War).
    • “Chén Hóngjūn 陈红军, a young soldier…who died defending the country’s borders in 2020,” referring to the border clash with India.
    • Poverty alleviation-focused lower-level cadres.
    • Border guards in Tibet and Xinjiang, as well as a cadre in Xinjiang “dedicated to safeguarding ethnic unity and opposing ethnic separatism.”
    • Doctors, scientists, teachers, and artists.

    Xi praised the awardees as “ordinary heroes” (平凡英雄 píngfán yīngxióng) in his speech (in Chinese).

    https://supchina.com/2021/06/29/ccp-marks-100th-anniversary-with-extravagant-performance-awards-for-ordinary-heroes/

    'One ordinary hero, and party member, who won't be receiving a 'July 1st medal' or any sort of award or recognition is Dr Li Wenliang

    The day that Dr Le Wenliang is officialy recognised in China for his heroic defiance of the regime, will be the day the regime ends.

  15. Mike Smith 15
    1 July 2021 at 5:13 pm

    @Corey have a look at this https://YouTube/HpjrVU6u00c

  16. Gareth Wilson 16
    1 July 2021 at 5:14 pm

    The Chinese name for Winnie the Pooh (Little Bear Winnie) is being blocked on Chinese social media sites because bloggers have been comparing the plump bear to China's President Xi Jinping, the BBC reports. Animated GIFs of the character were deleted from the app WeChat, and those who comment on the site Weibo with "Little Bear Winnie" get an error message.

    Winnie the Pooh censored in China after President Xi Jinping comparisons – CBS News

    • Jenny how to get there 16.1
      2 July 2021 at 4:13 am

      One thing is for sure, The Communist Party of China will not make it to its second century anniversary.

      • Jenny how to get there 16.1.1
        2 July 2021 at 10:45 am

        '

        Uh, Oh!

        China reverts to its dirty coal ways

        Beijing has trumpeted plans to reduce reliance on the sooty fuel but data shows consumption and production are trending up not down

        Coal-fired power plants that belch pollution and contribute to global warming were supposed to be phased out in a more environmentally sensitive China.

        In recent years, Chinese officials have spun and won applause for new clean environment narratives at various climate change and other environmental events and fora. But the facts on the ground increasingly belie those clean energy ambitions and claims……

        ……While China – the world’s largest coal producer and consumer – is officially calling for a reduction in its reliance on the polluting fuel, its statistical consumption patterns tell a different story.

        Coal used by coastal power plants at five major Chinese utilities hit 488,800 tons during the last week of March, more than double from a record low seen on February 10, according to China Coal Transport & Distribution Association (CCTDA).

        Though China’s coal uptick was partly in response to a spike in electricity demand as factories restarted after lockdown measures ended in mid-March, coal imports in April surged 35% to 34.42 million tons from a year earlier…..

        …..To be sure, China is not alone to blame for the rise in coal’s usage. In 2018, at the height of climate change concerns, global coal demand rebounded and grew 1.4% due to increased consumption in Asia, where the fuel’s overall usage increased by 2.5%.

        Some of the region’s largest coal users continue to rely on dirty hydrocarbons, mostly for their power sectors but also for industrial usage including steel production…..

        https://asiatimes.com/2020/07/china-reverts-to-its-dirty-coal-ways/

        And here down at the bottom of the South Pacific, little 'ol New Zealand are not blameless either.

        New Zealand is not a global superpower in the way China and the US are, but we are and have been world leaders in many areas.

        When we could and should be setting an example for the world, we too are also expanding our coal industry.

        We should, all of us, feel deep shame at the world we are leaving our children.

        https://extinctionrebellion.nz/2019/09/25/protesters-target-ardern-for-climate-change-hypocrisy-as-she-takes-world-stage/

  17. Socialist Appeal 17
    2 July 2021 at 10:15 am

    A Marxist perspective on the CCP.

    "This month the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) celebrates its 100th anniversary. The CCP achieved astonishing things. It led the Chinese Revolution, an epic struggle for power lasting over two decades. However, it is safe to say the party founded 100 years ago was the direct opposite of what it has become today. It is both Communist and a party in name only. It heads a state that defends capitalism. But a century ago, it was founded by dedicated communists prepared to risk their lives to overthrow the capitalist state."

    https://www.marxist.com/founding-of-ccp.htm

    There is also a book which I bought when it came out a few years ago. You can now read it for free online!

    https://www.marxist.com/china-permanent-revolution-to-counter-revolution-book.htm

  18. RedBaronCV 18
    4 July 2021 at 8:47 pm

    While a totalitarian state may have made progress over a 100 years so have a lot of other states with different governing systems. Any where other than the Standard and I'd be looking for a sponsored content tag.

    [Oh dear, not again!

    From the Policy (https://thestandard.org.nz/policy/):

    There are a number of topics and actions that are viewed as being self-evident attempts at martyrdom. They typically result in immediate and sometimes a permanent ban.

    A partial list of these self-martyrdom offenses include:-

    Describing the site as having ulterior motivations, being a tool of someone, or generally being ignorant of where you have come to.

    The last time somebody made the same mistake as you they copped in instant 5-month ban (https://thestandard.org.nz/uyghur-separatists-behind-call-for-parliamentary-motion-on-genocide/#comment-1791050).

    Unfortunately, you erred twice in short succession (https://thestandard.org.nz/rnzs-chinese-spies-story-doesnt-add-up/#comment-1801629).

    Your main stupidity was to accuse the Site, not the Author, of being a paid tool. Had you attacked the Author, you would be moderated as well, of course. As a long-term commenter here, you should have known this.

    If you stand by your unsupported allegations then take a long ban, i.e. the self-martyrdom option. Alternatively, withdraw and give a sincere apology – Incognito]

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