China is Preparing For The Communist Party Centenary With a Lot of Secrecy

The Chinese authority has closed the central Tiananmen Square to the public in Beijing, eight days ahead of the major celebration that is being planned to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Communist Party.

The square which generally attracts tourists from all parts of the country has been barricaded on Wednesday and it is going to remain closed until 2nd July. There are rows of yellow seats and heavy machinery are also seen on the open plaza that also houses the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, who was the founder leader of communist China.

The party will highlight the rise of the country from disastrous political campaigns and civil wars in the early years of communist rule to the market reforms that have created the second-largest economy in the world, with a superpower status that is only rivaled by the United States.

Nevertheless, old habits die hard as the arrangements for the 1st July anniversary remain shrouded in secrecy. Around Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and former palace complex, and other scenic sites are also closed. Flyovers by air force squadrons have suggested that an aerial view is in the planning but the details are yet to be released by the authorities.

Throughout the country and around Beijing, signboards have been erected and commemorative activities are held that are accompanied by the deployment of paramilitary forces and additional police.

The ruling party has been established in secrecy in 1921 following the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912. The first session of the party was held at a girl school in Shanghai and later on, it was moved to a lake boat to evade the agents of the local warlord as the party went on to build its reputation on resistance against the Japanese invaders and the Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists.