CCP Leader Warns of ‘Rough Seas’ as Communist China Celebrates 75th Anniversary

The anniversary marks decades of the Chinese regime’s human rights violations and the long reach of its transnational repression.Communist China marked its 75th anniversary on Oct. 1 with relatively low-key celebrations, after the regime’s top leader urged the nation to be “vigilant” amid what he described as an increasingly turbulent world.There were no festivities or military parades in Beijing on Oct. 1. The only notable event was a flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, held under tight security.In a speech delivered at the state banquet on the eve of National Day, CCP leader Xi Jinping said the nation must support the regime.Xi also issued a stern warning, urging the nation to be “vigilant” in times of peace and be “prepared for the rainy days.”“The road ahead will not be smooth,” Xi said at the banquet attended by more than 3,000 Party members and foreign delegates on Sept. 30.Related Stories“There will definitely be difficulties and obstacles. We may even encounter major tests such as high winds and rough seas, or even perilous, stormy waves,” Xi said, without providing further details. “No difficulties can stop the Chinese people from moving forward.”In Hong Kong, the city’s government organized more than 400 activities to foster what it called “a sense of patriotism in the community.”Chief Executive John Lee noted it’s the first celebration since the city enacted the new security law, known locally as Article 23. Under the new law, which went into effect in late March, offenses such as treason, insurrection, and sabotage now carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. On Sept. 19, a Hong Kong man was sentenced to 14 months in jail for wearing a T-shirt bearing a protest slogan, marking the first conviction under the new security law, which has drawn criticism from the United States, the European Union, and other foreign governments.In a speech at the celebration reception in Hong Kong, Lee said the city is undergoing “a critical period of economic transformation” but added that opportunities outweigh the challenges.Human Rights AbusesAs the Chinese regime celebrated its national day, overseas dissidents drew attention to the CCP’s ongoing suppression of freedoms and human rights abuses.On Sept. 30, more than 50 international organizations issued a joint statement condemning the Chinese regime’s transnational repression. The Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) and the Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) led the statement.“In recent years, authoritarian leaders around the world have intensified their efforts to silence criticism and intimidate critics abroad,” the statement reads.“These heinous actions are designed to restrict human rights such as the freedoms of speech and expression, even in countries like the United States where these rights are typically safeguarded.”The groups pointed to how, during Xi’s visit to San Francisco last November, peaceful protesters were targeted by “groups affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party” through harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and physical violence. “Even [Chinese] consular personnel were seen on the ground” during the street violence, they noted, citing a report by HKDC and SFT published in July.“We urge the U.S. State Department to consider elevating this as a diplomatic incident and the Justice Department to consider bringing federal charges against those who were responsible,” they wrote.Hong Kong Police Guard of Honour marches with the flags of China and Hong Kong during a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate communist China's 75th anniversary at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on Oct. 1, 2024. Anthony Kwan/Getty ImagesAmnesty International USA, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, China Aid Association, and Friends of Falun Gong were among the groups that co-signed the joint statement.Dr. Erkin Ekrem, interim president of the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC), said Oct. 1 “marks an important moment to stand united against” communist China, according to a statement.“For the past 75 years, China has maintained a brutal regime that systematically violates the rights of millions, eroding our cultural and religious identity and silencing dissent,” he added.The WUC called on Beijing to release the millions of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic groups arbitrarily detained in camps and “end the genocidal policies” in China’s Xinjiang region.Military AggressionAt the forefront of the regime’s aggression has long been Taiwan, and Xi reiterated his ambitions to seize the self-ruled island.During his Sept. 30 speech, Xi emphasized that “Taiwan independence separatist activities” must be stopped and the “one-China principle” must be upheld.The CCP sees Taiwan as a renegade province that must be united with the mainland. It has attempted to legitimize its territorial claim over Taiwan by arguing that U.N. Resolution 2758 supports the CCP’s “one-China principle,” which is different from the “one-China policy” adopted by the United S