100 Years of the Chinese Communist Party

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Propaganda films weaken the cinema market
In China, more propaganda films are being shown again. But although the "genre" appears with powerful images, they attract only a few viewers and thus damage distribution and cinema operators. It is not a risk-free business for production companies either, because historical content is subject to particularly close scrutiny. continue reading →
The tailors of the Red Capital
Xi Jinping did not simply wear a Mao-style jacket at his party anniversary appearance, but one with the exact same cut and hue as the original. Our columnist personally knows the tailor who makes these updated versions of the politically charged garment. The master tailor talked about the special requests that head of state Hu Jintao once made for his Gala Mao jacket. continue reading →
A new daily dilemma: a country between openness and surveillance
Today, on its 100th anniversary, the Communist leadership faces a major dilemma. It wants to consolidate its power and the order of the country. At the same time, it needs to allow more and more free-market economy since economic prosperity legitimizes its power. But this requires opening up to the world. The fact that this dilemma cannot be solved by ideological concepts, but in the end only by trial and error, was demonstrated by the reformer Deng Xiaoping. But it won't be any easier for the party to reconcile the two. continue reading →
Cai Xia – ideologist and defector
It is certainly not a congratulatory letter that Cai Xia has formulated for the 100th birthday of the Chinese Communist Party. On the contrary, the retired lecturer at the Central Party University in Beijing has recently switched sides, spatially and ideologically, and is lashing out against the leadership of the People’s Republic of China in […] continue reading →
Persecuted by Mao, revered like Mao: Xi’s relationship with the great superfather
One of Germany's best-known journalists and a long-time China correspondent have joined forces to write the first comprehensive biography of Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of China. And its title also serves as a thesis: "Xi Jinping – the most powerful man in the world". China.Table exclusively publishes a chapter from the new book by Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges. continue reading →
The Great Wall of steel
In his speech on the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party, Xi Jinping stresses that China is open to constructive criticism from other countries and is striving for a collective, peaceful world order. However, then his tone changes: The time to lecture or even bully China from a high horse is over. To defend itself, China needs a strong army. Lastly, Taiwan belongs to the mainland. continue reading →
Pater patriae
China's continuous rise is a cause of growing concern for the West. What is particularly irritating is that this rise has been achieved in a country where a Communist Party has ruled for more than seven decades – without free elections, freedom of speech and press, an independent judiciary, and protection of human rights as we know them. The Party is now celebrating its 100th birthday and is enjoying popularity like never before. continue reading →
The temple building in Beijing
Xi Jinping is giving the Communist Party a magnificent museum full of symbols to mark its centenary on July 1 – and immortalizing himself in the process. continue reading →
The end of unity within the CCP
In the Chinese Communist Party, the personal network of relationships builds the basis for climbing to a position of power. In past decades, those who made it to the top were either members of the Youth League or representatives of coastal business interests. Head of state Xi has managed to weaken both factions and build his own empire. But the path to the presidency for life is fraught with danger. continue reading →
‘China is becoming more powerful, but the CCP is going through nightmares’
In a few days, the Chinese Communist Party will celebrate its centenary. In an interview, sinologist Klaus Muehlhahn explains the success story, which for a long time was not a success – and its effects up to the present day: Historical ruptures continue to determine the actions of the leadership around Xi Jinping. Michael Radunski spoke with Muehlhahn. continue reading →
CP can do capitalism – the era of Deng
Anyone who wants to understand today's China must understand Deng Xiaoping. The gap between rich and poor, how a communist party can remain in force in one of the most capitalist countries in the world, the crisis of values in society – all this is related to him. continue reading →
The party is not forever
As the Communist Party of China prepares to mark its centennial on July 1, the poor longevity record of other dictatorial parties in modern times should give its leaders cause for worry. If the CPC is not on the right track with its neo-Maoist revival, its upcoming milestone maybe its last. continue reading →
Quiet and barely visible: the underestimated work of the United Front
For nearly 100 years, the Communist Party's United Front has sought to rally nonmembers to the party line and keep overseas Chinese under control. Its role as a string-puller in other countries, where it influences perceptions of Chinese politics through close networks of relationships with influential figures, is still completely underestimated. Sometimes foreigners do not even know they are providing valuable services to the United Front. continue reading →
Met with an accident before dawn
One of Beijing's cemeteries holds a dark secret. In eight graves lie urns with the ashes of young men. They died in a hail of bullets on the night of June 4, 1989, when the army put down student protests at gunpoint. The police only allow their parents and relatives to visit these graves. The massacre is taboo. In Hong Kong, the traditional candlelight service planned for today in Victoria Park has been banned, as it was in 2020. The cemetery is the only place in China where remembrance still has a public place. continue reading →
June 4: Beijing fights memory in Hong Kong
For years, the Chinese government has been working hard to erase the memories of the Tiananmen massacre from the population, using censorship and the coercion of activists. The campaign against remembrance has now reached Hong Kong, where hundreds of thousands used to gather for the annual vigil. Hong Kong teachers face punishment for teaching the background and details of the bloody events. Dissidents warn of a history distortion in the West as well. continue reading →
The world’s largest elite forge
Founded 100 years ago as a peasants' and workers' party, China's Communist Party is now an elite organization. Only one in ten interested people actually manages to become a member. The main motive for applicants: better career opportunities in the network of the influential. continue reading →
China’s party history: The cultural revolution falls by the wayside
The Party is always right, and Xi Jinping is its most important leader by far, even ahead of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. These are the main messages that the patient reader will take away from the newly published "short" history of the Chinese Communist Party. It has over 500 pages. continue reading →