60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China

60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China

red logo in the shape of the number '60'

Logo for the 60th anniversary of the PRC
Date 1 October 2009 (2009-10-01)
Also known as 中华人民共和国成立六十周年庆典
Website Xinhua
People's Daily
China Daily
Global Times
60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China
Simplified Chinese 中华人民共和国成立六十周年庆典
Traditional Chinese 中華人民共和國成立六十周年慶典

The 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China took place on 1 October 2009.[1] A military parade involving 10,000 troops and the display of many high-tech weapons was held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing and various celebrations were conducted all over the country. Hu Jintao inspected the troops along Chang'an Avenue in Beijing. This parade was immediately followed by a civilian parade involving 100,000 participants.

Background

The 60th Anniversary Military Parade took place on Chang'an Avenue, beneath Tiananmen.

The People's Republic of China was founded on 1 October 1949. Since then, celebrations of varying scales occur on National Day each year. Military parades, presided over by Chairman Mao Zedong, were held every year between 1949 and 1959. In September 1960, the Chinese leadership decided that in order to save funds and "be frugal", large-scale ceremonies for National Day would only be held every ten years, with a smaller-scale ceremony every five years.[2] The last large-scale celebration during the Mao era was in 1969. Large-scale celebrations did not take place for 14 years amidst the climax of the Cultural Revolution.[2] Since then, the most prominent National Day celebrations have taken place in 1984 and 1999, at the 35th and 50th anniversaries respectively. During these celebrations, then-paramount leader Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin reviewed military parades of the People's Liberation Army. The 2009 parade was the first and last time Hu Jintao oversaw this task, as he will leave office in 2012 due to term limits.[3]

Preparations

Banner in Shenzhen in late August

40 million potted flowers, supplied by the state-owned Beijing Flowers & Trees Corp., were put in place in Beijing streets, approximately 5 million of which have been planted along the east-west axis of Chang'an Avenue, also known as 'Avenue of Eternal Peace'. Flowers in Tiananmen Square were under 24-hour surveillance; Beijing Jinggong Red Flag factory is producing 2 million national flags for the celebrations.[4] In Tiananmen Square itself, 56 "pillars of national unity" – each one symbolizing the 56 ethnic groups in China – were erected, with each containing fireworks for the night event on 1 October.[5] 800,000 volunteers controlled crowds and maintained order while a further 30,000 provided translation services at subway and bus stations.[6]

Mosquitoes, rats, flies, and cockroaches were the targets of professional exterminators – four unannounced night-time sweeps were carried out around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, including in the Forbidden City complex. The public was encouraged to support the eradication through red slogan banners along Beijing streets and alleys, in what The Times said was reminiscent of the Four Pests campaign. One of these slogans read: “Eradicate the four pests, stress hygiene. Cleanly, cleanly welcome National Day!”[7]

Tiananmen Square was sealed off for the day on 29 August for the first rehearsals. Tens of thousands of fully costumed performers rehearsed on 16 September.[8] The military also prepared, with several hundred vehicles rolling down Chang'an Avenue on 6 September.[9] parts of Beijing were closed down on 18 September for the final rehearsals of the anniversary parade. Police cleared streets and office buildings on the main roadways near Tiananmen Square from noon onwards for rehearsals that evening. State media went into overdrive, for example, highlighting how thousands of troops spent four months drilling to march in step on a mock practice ground with scale model of Chang'an Avenue - complete with the leadership reviewing stand.[10] Following disruptions caused by the drills, which shut down roads and large parts of the Beijing Subway, Xinhua News Agency announced that the final rehearsal parade, scheduled for 26 September, was called off.[11]

Security

The Sunday Times reported that "thousands of agents will stage a security clampdown exceeding anything seen for the 2008 Olympic Games".[12] Police in Beijing and neighbouring provinces were in a heightened state of readiness, with night patrols by armed police lasting from 15 September until the end of the festivities.[4] All basements in the city were subject to inspection by police, while some restaurants with roof terraces were not permitted to seat patrons on sides overlooking the street for the duration.[9] However, despite the supposed high alert around Beijing, a man armed with a knife killed two people and injured 12 in the heart of Beijing on 17 September.[13] Peter Ford of the Christian Science Monitor said that the stabbing incident had been played down locally.[14] Following the attacks, however, the knives were removed from sale at some stores such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour.[15][16]

Thousands of paramilitary officers were deployed at bridges, road tunnels and other strategic points in the city.[17] Residents were warned that if they stepped out onto balconies along the route, they might be shot.[12] 30,000 people with tickets have been invited to watch the event, but others were encouraged to watch it on television to "avoid complications."[18]

The Times says the authorities engaged counter-terrorist units and informers in districts where Xinjiang Muslims live, placed Tibetan Buddhists under surveillance, and arrested dissidents.[12] Peasants coming to the capital to present their grievances as petitions were blocked.[12] while the government ordered the search of all cars entering Beijing. The security drives organised by the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing, as well as neighbouring Hebei, Liaoning, Shandong and Shanxi provinces, the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and the Tianjin Municipality was dubbed a "Security Moat" by a senior official. The official said the "safety of China's National Day celebrations and stability in Beijing was of overriding importance."[19] The Times reported Internet users saying censorship has been tightened: many sites have been blocked, among them Facebook and Twitter;[12] one media analyst said that the authorities upgraded their technology to block free proxy services and were trying to block any free proxy services and VPNs during the week prior to the anniversary.[20]

Other security arrangements in place included relocation of mailboxes and newspaper stands along Chang'an Avenue and the closure or restricted opening of some of the hotels along the route (ex. the Beijing Hotel, the Beijing News Plaza Hotel, and the Beijing International Hotel). Other hotels on Chang'an Avenue closed guest rooms facing the main road during the celebrations.[4]

Media

The government established a media centre from 22 September until 2 October at the Media Center Hotel catering for journalists covering celebrations. The centre's deputy, Zhu Shouchen, said they received applications from more than 4,500 journalists around the world, including some 1,300 journalists from 346 media organisations in 108 countries. Almost 400 of them were said to be from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.[21]

A film entitled The Founding of a Republic, commissioned by China's film regulator and made by the China Film Group (CFG) to mark the anniversary, was released nationwide on 17 September. The film retells the tale of the Communist ascendancy and triumph, with a star-studded cast including Zhang Ziyi, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and directors Jiang Wen, Chen Kaige and John Woo in mostly cameos appearances; the leading roles – such as Mao Zedong – were played by lesser known actors. CFG chairman Han Sanping co-directed the film with Huang Jianxin. A CFG spokesman said many stars answered Han's call to appear in the film and waived their fee, helping it keep its modest budget of 60–70 million yuan (US$8.8–$10 million). According to the executive at one of China's top multiplex chains, the film unusually married "the core of an 'ethically inspiring' film" – code for propaganda films, according to the Associated Press – "with commercial packaging."[22]

Parades

A PLZ-89 self-propelled howitzer passes the Shin Kong Place Luxury shopping centre during a training exercise, Beijing.

Leaders

Liu Qi, as the Beijing municipal Communist Party Secretary, was the master of ceremonies for the event. Hu Jintao, in his position as the General Secretary of the Communist Party, President of the People's Republic, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over the military parade. In addition, all members of the Politburo Standing Committee at the time, along with the former General Secretary, President Jiang Zemin, stood atop Tiananmen in protocol order for the entire duration of the parade. Other prominent retired leaders, including former Premiers Li Peng and Zhu Rongji, and former Vice-President Zeng Qinghong were also in attendance.

Military parade

The military parade took place on Chang'an Avenue, with the country's leaders watching the parade from Tiananmen, above Mao's portrait. Hu Jintao inspected the troops standing onto a Hongqi HQE limousine designed for the event, with a special license plate (京V 02009). For the anniversary, the Chinese government budgeted roughly $44 million for the military parade, with some budget cuts due to the recent global financial crisis.[23] The parade displayed 52 new types of military hardware, including ZTZ99 main battle tanks, J-10 fighter aircraft, KJ-200 and KJ-2000 early-warning aircraft, Z-9W attack helicopters, and new models of the Type 95 and Type 03 assault rifles.[24]

The five new types of missiles were paraded by the Second Artillery Corps. The Second Artillery's display included a total of 108 missiles and was intended to showcase China's strategic deterrence capabilities.[25]

List of participating divisions in the parade

In order of appearance:

List of military vehicles paraded

A ZBD2000 amphibious IFV in Beijing during a training exercise.

Chinese official state media states that all equipment displayed in the parade are manufactured in China, with 90% of them first displayed to the public. The equipment are listed in the order of appearance, with new appearances in bold:

Grand pageant (Mass pageant)

Sixty floats showcasing themes such as "progress of the motherland", "scientific development", "brilliant achievement", and "beautiful prosperous China" passed by Tiananmen Square.[26] Dozens of floats were surrounded by groups of either 1,949 or 2,009 marchers, with the total number of people marching in the parade being over one hundred thousand. One float had a giant portrait of Mao Zedong, which was immediately followed by similar floats with equally large portraits of Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao. On each of these portraits were inscribed slogans of each leader's signature ideologies: Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Three Represents, and the Scientific Development Concept. Voice recordings of each leader were also played through loudspeakers. A float with 181 foreigners from 53 countries named "One World" also took part.[27]

List of floats

List of card sequence slogans

Music

Flag raising, military parade, drive-by, and flyby
  1. Welcome March (欢迎进行曲)
  2. March of the Volunteers (National Anthem of the People's Republic of China) (义勇军进行曲)
  3. Military Anthem of the People's Liberation Army (中国人民解放军进行曲)
  4. Troops Review March of the PLA (检阅进行曲)
  5. The People's Army is Loyal to the Party (人民军队忠于党)
  6. Military Academy Song (军校之歌)
  7. Duty (使命)
  8. A Moment to Prepare (时刻准备着)
  9. Servicemen (当兵的人)
  10. Parade March of the People's Liberation Army (分列式进行曲)
  11. Motherland, Please Review (祖国，请检阅)
  12. March of Armored Vehicles (战车进行曲)
  13. Song of the Loyal Guards (忠诚卫士之歌)
  14. March of the Artillery Force (炮兵进行曲)
  15. People's Navy, Forward (人民海军向前进)
  16. Military Might March (军威进行曲)
  17. March of the Second Artillery Corps (第二炮兵进行曲)
  18. March of the PLA Air Force (中国空军进行曲)
  19. I Love the Motherland's Blue Skies (Chinese: 我爱祖国的蓝天)
Civilian parade
  1. Ode to the Red Flag
  2. The East Is Red (东方红)
  3. Without the Communist Party, There Would Be No New China (没有共产党就没有新中国)
  4. Red Banner Hymn (红旗颂)
  5. Story of Spring (春天的故事)
  6. Youth, Oh, Youth (青春啊青春)
  7. Into the New Era (走进新时代)
  8. Song of the Yangtze (长江之歌)
  9. Rivers and Mountains (江山)
  10. Today is your Birthday (My China) (今天是你的生日)
  11. On the Field of Hope (在希望的田野上)
  12. We Workers Have Strength (咱们工人有力量)
  13. Toast Song (祝酒歌)
  14. The Red Flag Flutters (红旗飘飘)
  15. You and Me (Olympic theme song) (我和你)
  16. Melody of Welcome Greeting (迎宾曲)
  17. Love My China (爱我中华)
  18. China Navigates (领航中国)
  19. Walking towards Rejuvenation (走向复兴)
  20. Anthem of the Young Pioneers of China (中国少年先锋队队歌)
  21. Songs and Smiles (歌声与微笑)
  22. Ode to the Motherland (歌唱祖国)

Broadcast

China Central Television was responsible for the live broadcast of the National Day celebrations and military parade, from 8:00 am (CST) to noon, on CCTV-1, CCTV-3, CCTV-4, CCTV-7, CCTV-10, CCTV-12, CCTV News Channel, CCTV-HD and CCTV Music Channel, as well as in other languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian on each of their respective language international channels), both on TV and online. CCTV-9 (English) rebroadcast the celebrations at 16:00, 24:00, and 7:00 (2 October).

China National Radio provided live audio coverage throughout mainland China on CNR channels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9; the Hong Kong and Macau region on CNR channel 7; and Taiwan on CNR channel 5.

National Day Evening Gala

On the evening of 1 October, from 20:00 to 22:00, a music concert of 28 patriotic Chinese songs was performed with hundreds of dancers in Tiananmen Square, with a series of massive fireworks displays overhead. Early media reports earlier predicted that the fireworks presentation would be "double the firepower of the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony". CCTV viewers and Internet users around the world were also both able to watch the live broadcast of the gala.

Songs

Prelude
My Motherland
Chapter One
Great Motherland
  1. I Love China
  2. Our Motherland Is A Garden
  3. Paean
  4. Xinjiang Is A Good Place
  5. Emancipated Serfs Sing Proudly
  6. Bellflower Song
  7. Flower and Youth
  8. Folk Songs Are Like The Spring Water
  9. A-Li Mountain Girls
  10. Our Motherland Is A Garden (slightly different; repeated as a closing to the chapter)
Chapter Two
Our Birth Place
  1. Today Is Your Birthday
  2. On The Land Of Hope
  3. China March
  4. The New Look Of Our Motherland
  5. A Toast Song
  6. Good Days
Chapter Three
On This Vast Land
  1. Proud Builders
  2. Youthful China
  3. Let's Swing Our Oars
  4. Great China
  5. Young Friends Get Together
  6. Meeting Twenty Years Later
Chapter Four
Sunshine Everywhere
  1. The Sunny Way
  2. Road To Rejuvenation
  3. Waltz Of Youth And Friendship
  4. Ode To The Motherland
  5. Firmly We Hold Our Hands*
  6. Country And Home*

(" * " denotes a translation of the song's title different from the officially provided CCTV title)

Commemorative coins and stamps

Front and back of a limited edition (100) one-kilogram gold commemorative coin with a face value of 10,000 yuan.

Three types of gold coins and two types of silver coins were issued by the People's Bank of China on 16 September to commemorate the anniversary. A total of 60,700 gold coins with face values of ¥10,000, 2,000 yuan, and 100 yuan were issued, while a total of 106,000 silver coins with the face values of 300 and 10 yuan issued. All the coins, produced by Shenzhen Guobao Mint and Shenyang Mint, and distributed by the China Gold Coin Incorporation, are legal tender.[28]

The obverse of the coins features China's national emblem, set in a frieze of peonies. The reverse includes various designs including a rocket, a satellite, a high-speed train, and the Beijing Olympic Stadium. Other forms will show designs of an open gate, a bridge, or urban construction. They bear Chinese characters saying: "In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, 1949–2009."[28]

On 20 October 2009, the China National Philatelic Corporation issued three collections in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary. There are two stamp albums priced at ¥380 and ¥680 and a stamp scroll priced at ¥1,280.[29]

HK fan-shaped stamps, in souvenir sheet (below)

Hongkong Post issues a set of six commemorative stamps and a stamp sheetlet on 1 October.[30] Unlike most stamps, the set of stamps are fan-shaped and form a circle when placed together (as seen in the souvenir sheet configuration). Their pictorial design is based on the winning entries of a competition: Victoria Harbour and Tiananmen Square are depicted on two interlocking cogwheels on the $1.40 stamp; the five-star national flag flying by the side of the "Forever Blooming Bauhinia" ($1.80). The Bird's Nest stadium is on the $2.40, while China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou 7 is depicted on the $2.50. The Temple of Heaven features on the $3 value and a golden dragon soaring above the Great Wall adorns the $5 stamp. A souvenir sheet features all six stamps, which form a perfect ring with the accompanying number "6", together forming the number "60". Hong Kong's stamp sheetlet has two $5 stamps in Chinese red, one featuring Beijing and one Victoria. The National Emblem and Tiananmen appear on the left and the Regional Emblem above a night view of Hong Kong.[30]

Outside China

The Empire State Building lights up in red and yellow on the eve of 1 October.

The Empire State Building in New York City lit up in red and yellow lights on 1 October in commemoration of the founding of the People's Republic of China.[31][32] The display was criticised by some commentators within the United States, with some branding it as an improper gesture towards China.[33][34][35] The lights first ignited on the eve of 30 September, and lasted for the duration of the following day.[32]

China's ally and neighbouring state, Pakistan, issued a commemorative postage stamp of five rupees on 1 October.[36]

Incidents and protests

Kyodo reporters assault

On 18 September 2009, three employees from the Japanese Kyodo News agency were assaulted by officials in their Beijing hotel room as they tried to cover the rehearsals of the parade.[37][38] China's Foreign Ministry stated that the reporters did not comply with a notification to news organisations to not cover the rehearsal.[37]

Hong Kong protests

Approximately 800 protesters, dressed in black and holding banners, participated in a human rights which started at Chater Garden in Central, Hong Kong. Scuffles broke out when activists tried to carry a mock coffin to the doorstep of the liaison office.[39][40] The music group My Little Airport also performed a song named "I Love The Country, But Not The Party" (我愛郊野，但不愛派對), using a pun on the 60th anniversary; its Chinese title literally translates "Country" to mean the rural area and "Party" to mean a "social gathering".[41]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China". China Daily.
  2. 1 2 "Wei Jianfeng: Looking back at 13 military parades since the founding of the PRC". 東方軍事 (Eastday) (in Chinese).
  3. ↑ Sainsbury, Michael (1 October 2009). "China marks 60th anniversary of communist rule". The Australian.
  4. 1 2 3 China Daily (15 September 2009). "Flowers decorate streets of Beijing". Sina.com.
  5. ↑ "'Pillars of National Unity' set up in Tian'anmen Square". China Daily. 15 September 2009.
  6. ↑ Ng, Grace (26 September 2009). "Excitement over China's N-Day". The Straits Times.
  7. ↑ Macartney, Jane (3 September 2009). "China wages war on pests before 60th anniversary of Communist rule". The Times (London).
  8. ↑ Xinhua (17 September 2009). "Rehearsal for National Day celebration held in Beijing". Sina.com.
  9. 1 2 AP (6 September 2009). "60th anniversary rehearsal". The Straits Times.
  10. ↑ Hutzler, Charles (19 September 2009). "Dry run: Beijing shuts early for parade practice". Associated Press.
  11. ↑ Blanchard, Ben (18 September 2009). "Beijing cancels National Day rehearsal after disruptions". Reuters.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Sheridan, Michael (27 September 2009). "China reaches out on 60th anniversary". The Sunday Times (London).
  13. ↑ Branigan, Tania (17 September 2009). "Stabbings in Beijing ahead of National Day". The Guardian (London).
  14. ↑ Ford, Peter (17 September 2009). "China covers up Tiananmen knifing amid 60th anniversary security boost". Christian Science Monitor.
  15. ↑ Associated Press (22 September 2009). "Security overdrive as Beijing readies for show of a lifetime". The Standard.
  16. ↑ Trung Hoa “làm sạch” trung tâm thủ đô chuẩn bị lễ Quốc Khánh (Vietnamese)
  17. ↑ Wong, Yee Fong (19 September 2009). "China tightens security ahead of anniversary celebrations". Channel NewsAsia.
  18. ↑ "China set for mass celebrations". BBC News. 30 September 2009.
  19. ↑ Xinhua (23 September 2009). "Senior leader calls for all-inclusive Beijing security checks". Chinaviwew.
  20. ↑ Barriaux, Marianne (1 October 2009). "Internet, dissidents under watch for China's National Day". Sydney Morning Herald. AFP.
  21. ↑ Xinhua (22 September 2009). "China opens media center for coverage of 60th National Day celebrations". Chinaviwew.
  22. ↑ Lee, Min (3 September 2009). "China injects star power into anniversary film". AP.
  23. ↑ "China to hold frugal 60th anniversary parade". RIA Novosti. 30 January 2009.
  24. ↑ "Six Most Anticipated 'New Weapons' in the National Day Parade". People's Daily. 23 September 2009.
  25. ↑ Zhongguo Xinwen She, "Second Artillery To Debut 5 New Strategic Missiles At National Day Parade", 28 September 2009.
  26. ↑ Foster, Peter (30 September 2009). "China celebrates 60th anniversary but the public isn't invited". The Daily Telegraph (London).
  27. ↑ Tong, Xiong (30 September 2009). "One day in Beijing, once in a lifetime". Xinhua.
  28. 1 2 Xinhua (2 September 2009). "Central Bank to issue coins commemorating 60th anniversary of founding of New China". People's Daily.
  29. ↑ "Celebration of The 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China". China National Philatelic Corporation. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
  30. 1 2 "Special Stamp Issue – '60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China'". Hongkong Post Newsletter. September 2009.
  31. ↑ No author, 28 September 2009, Empire State Building turns red-yellow for China's 60th, AFP
  32. 1 2 Abrams, Joseph, 1 October 2009, Empire State Building Goes Red for Communist China, Sparking Protest, Fox News
  33. ↑ Heye, Doug, 30 September 2009, The Empire State Building's Disgusting Kowtow to China, U.S. News & World Report
  34. ↑ Pan, Kai, 30 September 2009, Empire State Building Honoring PRC 60th Anniversary Outrage, CNReviews
  35. ↑ Chung, Jen, 1 October 2009, Empire State Building's China Tribute Draws Protests, Gothamist
  36. ↑ Xinhua (1 October 2009). "Pakistan issues postage stamp to mark 60th anniversary of new China". chinaview.cn.
  37. 1 2 AFP (22 September 2009). "Assault on reporters regretted". Straits Times.
  38. ↑ AP (18 September 2009). "Chinese authorities assault 3 Kyodo News journalists in Beijing".
  39. ↑ The Australian. "Hong Kong activists urge human rights.." The Australian Retrieved on 6 October 2009.
  40. ↑ Yahoo.com. "Yahoo.com." 陶君行戴上手銬抬走. Retrieved on 6 October 2009.
  41. ↑ YouTube: I love the Country, but not the Party

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