'No difficulties can stop China but...': Xi Jinping forecasts ‘rough seas’ on 75th anniversary of PRC

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said “no difficulties can stop the Chinese people from moving forward” but at the same time also cautioned about “rough seas” ahead, urging the public to remain “vigilant” and prepare for danger.

According to The Guardian, addressing the 3,000 Chinese Communist party (CCP) members and foreign dignitaries to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on Monday, the eve of China’s national day, Xi said, “The road ahead will not be smooth, there will definitely be difficulties and obstacles, and we may encounter major tests such as high winds and rough seas, or even stormy waves.”

However, he said “no difficulties can stop the Chinese people from moving forward” but cautioned the people to be “vigilant”, prepare for danger, and rely on the party and its army ahead of tough times.

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Xi, who has tightened control over the CCP and Chinese people during his rule, praised China’s advancement since Communist forces ousted the Nationalist government and established the PRC.

China, the world’s second-largest economy and most populous nation, is struggling to bounce back after the Covid-19 pandemic and has issues in its housing sector, compounded by an aging population and low consumer spending.

Recently, the government implemented measures to boost the economy, such as lowering interest rates and raising the retirement age, but analysts warn these may be insufficient. Moreover, ongoing territorial disputes with the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan continue to fuel tensions with the US, a key ally of all three nations.

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During his speech, Xi reiterated plans to annex Taiwan under what he terms “reunification”.

The CCP claims Taiwan as a Chinese province, and subsuming it into the PRC is a key priority. Taiwan, though, has never been ruled from the Chinese mainland since the CCP took power there.

“Taiwan is China’s sacred territory, and the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood, and blood is thicker than water,” The Guardian quoted Xi as saying, citing China’s state media.

“No one can stop the wheel of history,” he added.

The CCP has not ruled out using force to take Taiwan, enacting laws that impose the death penalty on serious separatists, including senior members of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

Taiwan’s people and their democratically-elected government overwhelmingly reject CCP rule and are enhancing domestic defenses in preparation for a potential attack.

The US remains a major arms supplier, with a recent approval of a $567 million military sales package for Taiwan.

In response, China has accused the US of “conniving” with separatists and warned that such support would “backfire.” A Chinese spokesman emphasised that no amount of US weapons will weaken its resolve against “Taiwan independence.”

“No matter how many weapons the US provides to the Taiwan region, it will never weaken our firm will in opposing ‘Taiwan independence’ and safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” The Guardian quoted a spokesman as saying.

While Xi Jinping’s speech on the 75th anniversary of the CCP was prominently featured in state media, coverage was subdued compared to past years, likely reflecting the financial strain on Chinese citizens.

In contrast, Hong Kong is set to host a record number of events under heavy police oversight, following a crackdown on dissent and an electoral overhaul ensuring only pro-Beijing officials can hold office.

With inputs from agencies