BEIJING (AP), Chinese leader Xi Jinping paid tribute to those who lost their fight for Communist Party rule. He is leading a national campaign to strengthen patriotism, single-party authority and support patriotism.
Xi, along with six other members from the party's all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, led veterans as well as military and government leaders to pay their respects at the Monument to the Peoples Heroes located in the middle of Tiananmen square. A military band also played.
Premier Li Keqiang addressed a reception on Thursday night, the eve before National Day.
Martyrs Day is a reminder of the importance Xi places upon Communist traditions, having become China's most powerful leader after Mao Zedong. He founded the People's Republic in 1949 and swept to power in a bloody civil conflict. The ceremony this year follows celebrations of the centenary anniversary of the party's founding in 1921.
While building a cult-of-personality, Xi has pushed a hardline foreign policy and a crackdown against free speech and political resistance in the semiautonomous city Hong Kong. Relations with the U.S. are at their lowest point in decades. Beijing has filed a slew of complaints about everything from Taiwan's support for human rights to Washington’s support for Taiwan.
China claims the autonomous island democracy it calls its territory and threatens military force to take it under Beijing's wing. Xi, also the vastly powerful Chinese military, has increased the threat by flying military aircraft near the island almost daily while ground troops drill on the coast.
Li made National Day remarks and praised the government for its performance in the past year. He also reiterated the government's key policies.
We will continue to fully, faithfully, the principles of one nation, two systems... and maintain long term prosperity and stability, Li said to the gathering. Li was referring to the 1997 formula that Hong Kong was handed from British rule to Chinese rule. It promised freedoms not available in mainland China.
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Li stated that Beijing will continue to support peaceful development of cross-strait relationships relations and the reunification motherland on Taiwan.
"We will strongly oppose and discourage any Taiwan independence separatist movements or external interference," Li said. China will increase cooperation and exchange with other countries in order to address global problems and support the recovery and growth of the world economy.
For Thursday's ceremony at Tiananmen Square, all roads were closed around the area. The ceremony began with a trumpet fanfare and was followed by the singing of China’s national anthem, and a minute silence.
Red carpet was used to cover steps and the monument's upper level, which is an obelisk that stands 10 stories tall, partially carved with images of the struggle for communism.
A choir of children in white shirts and red scarves from the Young Pioneers youth group performed their anthem "We are the heirs to communism" at the ceremony.
