DATE=10/1/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CHINA / 50TH (L ONLY) NUMBER=2-254543 BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON DATELINE=BEIJING CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: China has observed its 50th anniversary under communist rule with a massive display of national pride, showcasing its growing military might and its rapid economic progress since it moved toward a market economy 20 years ago. VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports the big celebration -which cost millions of dollars-reflects the communist party's hopes of capitalizing on the accomplishments of recent years to stay in power. TEXT: President Jiang Zemin led the National Day celebration. Dressed in a grey Mao suit and riding in a 1960's vintage Red Flag limousine just like his mentor Deng Xiaoping at Beijing's last military parade 15 years ago, he reviewed the troops. Later, Mr. Jiang read a brief speech from atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace, where 50 years ago Mao proclaimed the People's Republic and said China had finally stood up. Mr. Jiang recalled that momentous day, but stressed the changes brought about by Deng's reforms. /////JIANG (WITH INTERPRETER) ACTUALITY///// Arduous struggle and strenuous effort of 50 years, particularly the past 20 years since reform and the opening-up, have brought about earth-shaking changes to the erstwhile poor and weak old China. /////END ACTUALITY///// He reminded his audience that it was under the leadership of the communist party that such changes had occurred, and he said only under communism can China be saved. While he emphasized China's advances of the past 20 years, the first three decades of communist rule in China were glossed over. There was no reference in President Jiang Zemin's speech or on the 91 floats recalling 50 years of communism to some of the more extraordinary disasters of the early years under Mao Zedong. No mention of the Great Leap Forward -Mao's backyard industrialization program that resulted in a famine which is believed to have killed 30 million people. No mention either of the Cultural Revolution -the decade of organized chaos whose scars still remain. Neither was there any mention of the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators 10 years ago in the same Tianamen Square that was the center of Friday's festivities. The party leadership is hoping that the national pride generated by the anniversary will redound to its benefit as it seeks to deal with an economic slowdown, rising unemployment and pervasive official corruption. But, just in case, security was so tight that ordinary citizens were kept away from Tiananmen Square and the parade route and had to view the day's events on television. Office buildings lining the parade route were evacuated and their doors and windows sealed. Occupants of hotel rooms with a view of the festivities were also removed. All of these last-minute measures were preceded by a roundup of such undesirables as vagrants, prostitutes, migrant workers, dissidents and members of suspect religious sects. The military parade was also meant as a message to Taiwan. Following Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty two years ago and Macau's re-incorporation later this year, only Taiwan remains to be reunified with the mainland. On display for the first time Friday were an intercontinental missile, the brand-new T-90 tank, the Flying Leopard fighter-bomber and aerial refueling tankers. China says it wants to reunite peacefully with Taiwan but will not renounce force if Taiwan declares formal independence. (signed) NEB/FC/RW 01-Oct-1999 03:43 AM LOC (01-Oct-1999 0743 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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