People's Daily says Long March shows need for strong Communist Party leadership

Long March shows why the Communist Party needs strong leadership: state media

A People’s Daily article has placed the Communist Party’s need for a central authority at the heart of its account of the Long March, arguing that members must uphold that authority.

The article, published on Monday by the party’s mouthpiece, said a key lesson from the Long March was the need for the party to have strong core leadership and for its members to uphold that core’s authority.

‘Only with a core can the party unite’

“History shows us that only with a core can the party unite as one, and only with authority can its orders be effectively carried out … The most important thing is to establish and resolutely uphold the party’s core,” Xie Chuntao, vice-president of the Central Party School, wrote in the People’s Daily article.

The argument makes leadership and obedience to the party’s core central to the historical lesson being presented through the Long March.

The article drew a parallel between the importance of Mao’s leadership during the 1930s and Xi’s role today.

Central Party School’s role

The Central Party School is the country’s top training institution for officials and is part of a nationwide system that Xi regards as crucial to maintaining ideological purity.

Xi was the school’s head between 2007 and 2012.

The article therefore connects the Long March-era leadership of Mao with the present-day role attributed to Xi, while also highlighting the institution associated with training party officials and maintaining ideological discipline.

Source: South China Morning Post