Full Breakdown
Xi Calls for a “New Long March” as China Marks 90th Anniversary of Red Army Victory
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: 90th-Anniversary Commemoration
On October 22, a gathering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s Long March. President Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, addressed roughly 3,000 participants, including members of the Politburo Standing Committee—Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi—and Vice President Han Zheng.
Background & Context
The Long March (1934–36) was a strategic retreat of the CPC-led Red Army across more than 10 provinces and roughly 12,500 km, ending when the Second and Fourth Front Armies met elements of the First in Gansu on October 22, 1936. The Party portrays the march as a decisive survival operation that laid the foundation for the Chinese Revolution and a “spiritual treasure” for today’s modernization.
Timeline
- October 22, 1936 – Final convergence of Red Army forces.
- April 24, 1970 – Launch of Long March-1, carrying China’s first satellite, Dongfanghong-1.
- October 22, 2026 – Commemoration ceremony in Beijing.
- October 10, 2026 – Cumulative total of 671 orbital launches by the Long March rocket family.
Data & Statistics
- Red Army traversed >10 provinces and covered ?12,500 km.
- Initial strength cited as 86,000–90,000; surviving force reduced to ?7,000 by October 1935.
- Approximately 3,000 officials, veterans and guests attended the 2026 ceremony.
- The Long March rocket family had completed 671 orbital launches as of October 10, 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
- Xi called for high-quality development, common prosperity, and accelerated modernization of the People’s Liberation Army to “world-class standards.”
- Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning noted that the Long March spirit underpins China’s independent foreign-policy stance and cooperation with partners such as Russia.
On-the-Ground Reports
Observers reported a solemn atmosphere, with the gathering’s scale reflecting reverence for history and the Party’s emphasis on collective memory.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the original Red Army size and attrition: one account cites 86,000 troops at the start and ?7,000 survivors; another mentions ?90,000 initial participants and a final strength of ?30,000 reaching Shaanxi in October 1936. No definitive casualty count is provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It meant that the development of the rockets would overcome all difficulties and achieve victory, just as the Red Army had done during the Long March,” — Han Houjian
- “We must uphold the comprehensive leadership of the Party and the centralized, unified leadership of the Party, and unswervingly advance full and strict governance over the Party.” — President Xi
- “I am a descendant of Red Army martyrs,” — Liu Yang
