(Beijing) – Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that “no force” can shake China as he oversaw a massive military celebration of 70 years of Communist Party rule, shadowed by a day of protest in seething Hong Kong that threatened to steal the spotlight.
Standing on the Tiananmen Rostrum where Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the People´s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, Xi extolled the “Chinese dream” of national rejuvenation — his grand vision of restoring the country to perceived past glory.
“There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation,” Xi said, wearing a “Mao suit” as he stood alongside party leaders in Tiananmen Square.
“No force that can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation forging ahead,” the country´s most powerful leader since Mao said before riding in an open-roof car to review troops.
Around 15,000 soldiers, tanks and high-tech weapons were ready to file past Tiananmen Square for an event celebrating China´s journey from a country broken by war and poverty to being the world´s second-largest economy.
A symbolic 70-gun salute was fired at the square and the red national flag was raised to begin festivities held under tight security, with road closures and even a ban on flying kites.
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