Xi Jinping: Mess with us and face bloodshed

As calls for a fresh investigation into the origins of coronavirus amplifies and the global leaders join hands to tackle China's growing threat, President Xi Jinping on the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has publicly threatened of “bloodshed" if anyone tried to mess with Beijing. According to NDTV, in the summer of 1921 Mao and a clutch of Marxist-Leninist thinkers in Shanghai founded the Communist Party, which has since morphed into one of the world's most powerful political organisations. Speaking from the podium in Tiananmen Square where once Mao Zedong had proclaimed the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xi said, "The Chinese people will never allow any foreign forces to bully, oppress, or enslave us". "Anyone who dares try to do that will have their heads bashed bloody against the Great Wall of Steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people," he added. According to BBC, Xi Jinping, modern China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, wore a light grey suit which appeared to be identical to the one worn by the Communist Party founder in the famous portrait that adorns one side of Tiananmen Square. During the ceremony a fly-by of helicopters in formation of '100' -- a giant hammer and sickle flag trailing -- was followed by a 100-gun salute. BBC further reported that at the end of the ceremony, the crowd sung a song called "Without the Communist Party There Would Be No New China". The CCP has organised a week-long celebration promoting Beijing-approved history. According to AFP news agency, the Chinese history did not include significant events such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. However, a huge police force did patrol the streets of Hong Kong to prevent any protest against Beijing or Xi Jinping. According to a NDTV report, four activists marched with a banner near the official anniversary reception on Thursday -- tailed by 200 police officers, a fraction of the thousands deployed across the city to deter pro-democracy groups from mobilising. It is interesting to note here that July 1 is also the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the Chinese rule. Meanwhile, it has also been one year since the draconian national security law (to smother free speech) was imposed in Hong Kong. Under this law thousands of pro-democracy Hong Kong activists have been arrested till now. China has been rebuked globally for cracking down on Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters and Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Lithuania is the latest to have termed the human rights abuses on the ethnic minorities as 'genocide'. Meanwhile, during the centenary celebrations in Tiananmen Square, Xi reiterated that China will have an "unshakable commitment" to unify with Taiwan. "No one should underestimate the resolve, the will and ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. Xi’s comments on Taiwan have come a day after the US reiterated that it would continue to strengthen its relationship with Taipei. "Our support for Taiwan is rock solid," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a news conference in Washington, reported Taipei Times. "We're committed to the importance of the US-Taiwan trade and investment relationships, and we will continue to strengthen our trade relationship with Taiwan, which is why we are looking forward to the upcoming Trade and Investment Framework Agreement council meeting, which was recently announced," Psaki said.