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Party of the century

James Miles: China editor, The Economist

The Communist Party will celebrate its centenary. Some of those years it would
prefer to forget

Happy birthday?

IN 2021 THE Chinese Communist Party will not let anyone forget whose

special birthday it is. On July 1st it will officially mark a century since its

hugger-mugger founding in what was then Shanghai’s French Concession and

is now a trendy shopping district. But the whole year will be dominated by

reminders.

There will be operas, films and nearly 100 tie-in television dramas. Few official
speeches will fail to mention the anniversary. During 2020 the Communist Party dealt
crushing blows to two things that might have spoiled the centenary celebration: covid-
19 and unrest in Hong Kong. By the start of 2021 it will also have declared an end to
extreme poverty and the creation of a “moderately prosperous society in all respects”.
The party will be in a triumphant mood.