Lifeline of the Red Army
Looking at the bumpy history of the PLA, one cannot help exploring its successes and failures. Why has it always adhered to its political direction despite complex and changeable situations? Why has it always been able to gather the masses and grow as a people’s army? What is its recipe for cultivating so many heroes and talents? From the Jinggang Mountains to the Loess Plateau, from the Long March to reform and opening-up, the only answer is political work.
This is the constant element of survival and development. The Gutian Meeting in 1929 laid the foundation for the Chinese army’s political work, and the Party clearly stated in 1932: “Political work is by no means an auxiliary to, but the lifeline of the Red Army.” This view has become embedded among PLA troops and been written into every major document on military political work. As Xi said, political work reinforces the Party’s leadership over China’s army, provides inexhaustible strength for the military to defeat enemies and overcome difficulties, and ensures the army upholds its founding principles and avoids degeneration.
Since the first recorded army in ancient Egypt, countless armies have emerged and disappeared around the world. The 5,000 years of civilization are to some extent a history of armies and war. An army, in its early days, seems strong and invincible, but is soon trampled if it goes downhill in peacetime.
If an army perishes, so goes its country. China is no exception. In today’s highly competitive world, President Xi brought the troops back to Gutian, where the Chinese dream and strong army dream started, to curb a decadent trend that has been showing in the army. He said we had never been so close to the center of the world stage, so near to realizing the rejuvenation of China, and so capable and confident of achieving that goal. Considering the complex international situation and new developments and challenges that arise in national and military reform, it has never been more important to renew the spirit of the Gutian Meeting.
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