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Xi Jinping’s “Resisting U.S.” Speech (4): Gasps of Admiration

The following is the 4th and last part of my translation. Links within blockquotes added during translation.

« Part 3

Comrades and friends!

同志們、朋友們！

In the 60 years since the war to resist america and aid Korea, unprecedented historic and huge changes have taken place under the CPC’s strong leadership, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the Chinese nation has welcomed the huge leap forward^*) from standing up to getting rich, from getting rich to becoming strong.

抗美援朝戰爭勝利60多年來，在中國共産黨堅強領導下，中國發生了前所未有的歷史巨變，中國特色社會主義進入了新時代，中華民族迎來了從站起來、富起來到強起來的偉大飛躍。

Today, we stand at the historic confluence of the “Two Centenaries”, with the establishment of a moderately prosperous society in sight, and the shining perspective of a socialist modern country. The road ahead won’t be easy. We must engrave into our memory the hardships and great victory of the war to resist the U.S. and to aid Korea, the daring struggle, the improvement through struggle, the advancement despite difficulties, the tenacious movement ahead. We must continuously push forward toward the great cause of the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

今天，我們正站在實現“兩個一百年”奮鬥目標的歷史交匯點上，全面建成小康社會勝利在望，全面建設社會主義現代化國家前景光明。前進道路不會一帆風順。我們要銘記抗美援朝戰爭的艱辛歷程和偉大勝利，敢于鬥爭、善于鬥爭，知難而進、堅韌向前，把新時代中國特色社會主義偉大事業不斷推向前進。

To engrave into our memories the great victory and to push the great cause, we must uphold the CPC’s leadership, and with the party, forge even greater strength. The victory in the war to resist the U.S. and to aid Korea proved once again that there is no political force that would be a match to the CPC which struggles for the national rejuvenation, the people’s happiness, not hesitating to spill blood, sacrifices its life, doesn’t spare any effort, and unites the masses of hundred millions, leading them continuously toward victory. As long as we don’t forget what got us started, as long as we keep our mission in mind, promote the new great project of party construction with a self-reformative spirit, constantly enhance the party’s leadership strength, its ideologically guiding role, its ability to organize the masses, the power to rally support from within society, the party will always be the most reliable and strongest backbone of the Chinese people!

銘記偉大勝利，推進偉大事業，必須堅持中國共産黨領導，把黨鍛造得更加堅強有力。抗美援朝戰爭偉大勝利再次證明，沒有任何一支政治力量能像中國共産黨這樣，為了民族復興、人民幸福，不惜流血犧牲，不懈努力奮鬥，團結凝聚億萬群眾不斷走向勝利。只要我們不忘初心、牢記使命，以自我革命精神全面推進黨的建設新的偉大工程，不斷增強黨的政治領導力、思想引領力、群眾組織力、社會號召力，就一定能夠使黨始終成為中國人民最可靠、最堅強的主心骨！

To engrave into our memories the great victory and to advance the great cause, we must adhere to putting the people first, serving the people and relying on the people in all matters. History is created by the people. The power of the Communist Party of China, the power of the people’s military forces has its foundations among the people. We must persevere with the fundamental objective of serving the people with heart and soul, gain advantages for the people, seek the people’s profit, do our duty for the people, assume responsibility for the people, with the people’s yearning for a better future as the unswerving goal of the struggle, and always maintain the ties of flesh and blood with the masses. As long as we adhere to the people’s position and the people’s supremacy, we will definitely arouse a force that can’t be overcome, and definitely keep writing marvelous and magnificent chapters of the great Chinese rejuvenation!

銘記偉大勝利，推進偉大事業，必須堅持以人民為中心，一切為了人民、一切依靠人民。歷史是人民創造的。中國共産黨的力量，人民軍隊的力量，根基在人民。我們要堅持全心全意為人民服務的根本宗旨，為民謀利，為民盡責，為民擔當，把人民對美好生活的向往作為始終不渝的奮鬥目標，始終保持黨同人民群眾的血肉聯係。只要我們始終堅持人民立場、人民至上，就一定能夠激發出無往而不勝的強大力量，就一定能夠不斷書寫中華民族偉大復興的精彩華章！

To engrave into our memories the great victory and to advance the great cause, we must uphold and promote economic and social development, and continuously expand our country’s comprehensive national power. Those who fall behind will be beaten, and only development can lead to self-strengthening. Ever since New China was founded over seventy years ago, our country has spent decades to complete what developed countries did in centuries, and created a development miracle that caught global attention. Currently, our country is entering a new stage of development, facing new opportunities and challenges. As long as we plan and promote the integration of the five dimensions as a whole, coordinate and promote the “four comprehensives‘” strategy, unswervingly implement the new development concept, and build a new development pattern, we can certainly achieve development of a higher quality which is more efficient, fairer, more sustainable and safer, making the world gasp in admiration!

銘記偉大勝利，推進偉大事業，必須堅持推進經濟社會發展，不斷壯大我國綜合國力。落後就要挨打，發展才能自強。新中國成立70多年來，我國用幾十年時間走完了發達國家幾百年走過的發展歷程，創造了舉世矚目的發展奇跡。當前，我國將進入新發展階段，面對新機遇新挑戰，只要我們統籌推進“五位一體”總體布局、協調推進“四個全面”戰略布局，堅定不移貫徹新發展理念，構建新發展格局，就一定能夠實現更高質量、更有效率、更加公平、更可持續、更為安全的發展，不斷創造讓世界驚嘆的更大奇跡！

To engrave into our memories the great victory and to advance the great cause, we must accelerate the promotion of national defense and military modernization, and comprehensively build the People’s Army into a globally front-ranking army. Without a strong army, there can be no strong motherland. To uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, development and security must be planned as a whole. The country must be made wealthy, and the army must be made strong. The party of the new era‘s ideology to strengthen the army must be implemented, the military thrust of the new era must be implemented, the party’s absolute leadership over the People’s Army be persevered with without the slightest sway, the army be politically built, the army be strengthened through reform, through science, through talent, and the army must be ruled by law, its defense of the country’s sovereignty be comprehensively improved, the benefits of its strategic abilities be developed [questionable translation – JR], so as to better fulfill the People’s Army’s mission and duties in the new era. As long as we we keep up with the times in strengthening national defense and building the army, progress and stride forward in accordance with the party’s goals for strengthening the army, it will certainly be able to provide even stronger strategic support for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!

銘記偉大勝利，推進偉大事業，必須加快推進國防和軍隊現代化，把人民軍隊全面建成世界一流軍隊。沒有一支強大的軍隊，就不可能有強大的祖國。堅持和發展中國特色社會主義，必須統籌發展和安全、富國和強軍。要貫徹新時代黨的強軍思想，貫徹新時代軍事戰略方針，毫不動搖堅持黨對人民軍隊的絕對領導，堅持政治建軍、改革強軍、科技強軍、人才強軍、依法治軍，全面提高捍衛國家主權、安全、發展利益的戰略能力，更好履行新時代人民軍隊使命任務。只要我們與時俱進加強國防和軍隊建設，向著黨在新時代的強軍目標闊步前行，就一定能夠為實現中華民族偉大復興提供更為堅強的戰略支撐！

To engrave into our memories the great victory and to advance the great cause, we must protect global peace and justice and promote the building of a common-destiny community of mankind. The Chinese nation has always upheld the concept of “close and fair to your neighbor”. As a major responsible country, China holds fast to all of mankind’s values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, perseveres with the comprehensive governance concept of joint discussion, joint construction and shared benefit. China unswervingly follows the road of peaceful development, cooperative development and common development. As long as we adhere to the road of peaceful development and promote the building of a common-destiny community of mankind together with all countries and peoples, we will certainly invite mankind’s beautiful future of peace and development!

銘記偉大勝利，推進偉大事業，必須維護世界和平和正義，推動構建人類命運共同體。中華民族歷來秉持“親仁善鄰”的理念。作為負責任大國，中國堅守和平、發展、公平、正義、民主、自由的全人類共同價值，堅持共商共建共享的全球治理觀，堅定不移走和平發展、開放發展、合作發展、共同發展道路。只要堅持走和平發展道路，同各國人民一道推動構建人類命運共同體，就一定能夠迎來人類和平與發展的美好未來！

Comrades and friends!

同志們、朋友們！

The world belongs to all the people of the world, the problems and challenges the world is facing require the collaboration of the people from all countries, a search for solutions hand in hand, and only mutually beneficial cooperation is the word’s correct path. In today’s world, unilateralism, protectionism and extreme egoism absolutely don’t work! No continuation in one’s own ways, as the only one who deserves to be honored, no way and behavior of hegemony and bullying, can work! Not only does it not work, but in the end, it will inevitably be a dead-end road!

世界是各國人民的世界，世界面臨的困難和挑戰需要各國人民同舟共濟、攜手應對，和平發展、合作共贏才是人間正道。當今世界，任何單邊主義、保護主義、極端利己主義，都是根本行不通的！任何訛詐、封鎖、極限施壓的方式，都是根本行不通的！任何我行我素、唯我獨尊的行徑，任何搞霸權、霸道、霸淩的行徑，都是根本行不通的！不僅根本行不通，最終必然是死路一條！

China has, all along, pursued a defensive national defense policy, and the Chinese military have always been a resolute force to maintain global peace. China will never proclaim itself hegemon, it won’t expand, and it will resolutely oppose hegemony and power politics. We will not sit and watch national sovereignty, security, and development interests being harmed, and we won’t allow anyone or any force to violate and break up our motherland’s sacred territory. Once such a serious situation occurs, the Chinese people will inevitably deliver a frontal assault!

中國一貫奉行防禦性國防政策，中國軍隊始終是維護世界和平的堅定力量。中國永遠不稱霸、不擴張，堅決反對霸權主義和強權政治。我們決不會坐視國家主權、安全、發展利益受損，決不會允許任何人任何勢力侵犯和分裂祖國的神聖領土。一旦發生這樣的嚴重情況，中國人民必將予以迎頭痛擊！

Comrades and friends!

同志們、朋友們！

As we are looking back to the great war to aid Korea and resist the U.S., and carrying out new great historic struggles, as we are looking forward to the shining prospect of the Chinese nation’s great rejuvenation, we are imcomparatively resolute and self-confident. Let us unite even more inseparably and closely around the party’s central committee, enhance the great spirit of aiding Korea and resisting the U.S., valiantly continue to march forward, toward the new order of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, toward bringing about China’s dream of the Chinese nation’s great of rejuvenation!

回望70年前偉大的抗美援朝戰爭，進行具有許多新的歷史特點的偉大鬥爭，瞻望中華民族偉大復興的光明前景，我們無比堅定、無比自信。讓我們更加緊密地團結在黨中央周圍，弘揚偉大抗美援朝精神，雄赳赳、氣昂昂，向著全面建設社會主義現代化國家新徵程，向著實現中華民族偉大復興的中國夢，繼續奮勇前進！

____________

Notes

^*) 偉大飛躍 / 伟大飞跃, not to be confused with the “Great Leap Forward” – JR
–

Xi Jinping’s “Resisting U.S. Speech (3): “Pave a Bloody Road”

The following is part 3 of my translation – general info about this speech can be found there.

« Part 2

A note of caution: while Xi Jinping’s Oct 23 speech certainly marks a turn away from seeking truth in the facts, a return to a concept where historical records have to serve propagandistic ends rather than science, and is almost certainly driven by a desire to make the “PLA” fit for action, some of the martial language is not as new as it might seem – the CPC never abandoned militaristic language. While the rallying cry to “pave a bloody road” has become more popular again, it is frequently used to push a domestic political agenda. Deng Xiaoping used the quote in the 1970s or 80s, and he may be the first Chinese politician who ever used it.

Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Korea war veterans attending October 23 commemoration

Xi Jinping, Oct 23, continued:

Comrades and friends!

The great victory in war of resisting the US and helping Korea meant that after having stood up, the Chinese people stood towering in the East of the world, and a manifesto to the world. It was an important milestone on the Chinese nation’s way towards the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, with great and far-reaching significance.

同志們、朋友們！

抗美援朝戰爭偉大勝利，是中國人民站起來後屹立于世界東方的宣言書，是中華民族走向偉大復興的重要裏程碑，對中國和世界都有著重大而深遠的意義。

As a result from this war, the Chinese people smashed the aggressor’s troops at their doorstep, and his scheme to strangle the new China in its cradle, and it could even be said that “one punch now will save a hundred later”, and imperialism would no longer dare to try military power to invade New China. New China really stood on stable feet. This war really said it all. Home and country were tranquil and peaceful, amply showing the Chinese people’s iron will not to submit to violence!

經此一戰，中國人民粉碎了侵略者陳兵國門、進而將新中國扼殺在搖籃之中的圖謀，可謂“打得一拳開，免得百拳來”，帝國主義再也不敢作出武力進犯新中國的嘗試，新中國真正站穩了腳跟。這一戰，拼來了山河無恙、家國安寧，充分展示了中國人民不畏強暴的鋼鐵意志！

As a result from this war, the Chinese people thoroughly swept away the recent age of being trampled upon, the disgraceful century of reliance on others for their air to breathe, proudly threw away the [dunce?] hat of “the sick man of Asia”. the Chinese people felt exhuberent. This war brought out the Chinese people’s spirit and amply demonstrated the tenacious quality of millions of the people all united!

經此一戰，中國人民徹底掃除了近代以來任人宰割、仰人鼻息的百年恥辱，徹底扔掉了“東亞病夫”的帽子，中國人民真正揚眉吐氣了。這一戰，打出了中國人民的精氣神，充分展示了中國人民萬眾一心的頑強品格！

As a result from this war, the Chinese people defeated the aggressor, shook the whole world, established New China’s important position in Asian and international affairs, and manifested its great-power status. This war made the world develop a whole new level of respect, amply demonstrating the Chinese people’s resolute determination to defend peace!

經此一戰，中國人民打敗了侵略者，震動了全世界，奠定了新中國在亞洲和國際事務中的重要地位，彰顯了新中國的大國地位。這一戰，讓全世界對中國刮目相看，充分展示了中國人民維護世界和平的堅定決心！

As a result from this war, the people’s army studied war by being at war, ever braver and stronger, thus achieving important military experience, and a transformation from isolated to integrated military services. They achieved enourmously boosted modernization of defense and military forces. In this war the people’s army’s fighting strength awed the world and amply produced the daring and unyielding inevitable victors!

經此一戰，人民軍隊在戰爭中學習戰爭，愈戰愈勇，越打越強，取得了重要軍事經驗，實現了由單一軍種向諸軍兵種合成軍隊轉變，極大促進了國防和軍隊現代化。這一戰，人民軍隊戰鬥力威震世界，充分展示了敢打必勝的血性鐵骨！

As a result of this war, Asia’s post-2nd-world-war strategic pattern was profoundly rmeolded, the just cause of the world’s oppressed nations and peoples was greatly encouraged, vigorously promoting the cause of global peace and mankind’s progress. It told the common people by unshakable facts that any country, any troops, no matter how strong, would inevitably get bloody heads when they stood in opposition to the currents of global development, insulted the weak, went against the tide, invaded and expanded. This war showed again that righteousness is bound to prevail, and that peaceful development is an unstoppable historic tide!

經此一戰，第二次世界大戰結束後亞洲乃至世界的戰略格局得到深刻塑造，全世界被壓迫民族和人民爭取民族獨立和人民解放的正義事業受到極大鼓舞，有力推動了世界和平與人類進步事業。它用鐵一般的事實告訴世人，任何一個國家、任何一支軍隊，不論多麼強大，如果站在世界發展潮流的對立面，恃強淩弱、倒行逆施、侵略擴張，必然會碰得頭破血流。這一戰，再次證明正義必定戰勝強權，和平發展是不可阻擋的歷史潮流！

Comrades and friends!

同志們、朋友們！

In the magnificiently unfolding war to resist the US and to aid Korea, the heroic Chinese people’s volunteer army always put the motherland’s and people’s interests above all else, dashed forward with no thought for their own safety, for the dignity of the motherland and the people, with a patriotic spririt, bravely and tenaciously, abandoning life and neglecting death, with the spirit of revolutionary optimism that defies hardships and maintains a high morale, to accomplish the mission the motherland and the people had assigned them with, consecrating all their revolutionary loyalty. For humankind’s cause of peace and justice, they strived in the spirit of internationalism, forging the great spirit of resisting the US and aiding Korea.

在波瀾壯闊的抗美援朝戰爭中，英雄的中國人民志願軍始終發揚祖國和人民利益高于一切、為了祖國和民族的尊嚴而奮不顧身的愛國主義精神，英勇頑強、舍生忘死的革命英雄主義精神，不畏艱難困苦、始終保持高昂士氣的革命樂觀主義精神，為完成祖國和人民賦予的使命、慷慨奉獻自己一切的革命忠誠精神，為了人類和平與正義事業而奮鬥的國際主義精神，鍛造了偉大抗美援朝精神。

The great spirit of resisting the US and aiding Korea reaches across time and space, must be perpetually passed on through the generations, through the ages.

偉大抗美援朝精神跨越時空、歷久彌新，必須永續傳承、世代發揚。

No matter how the times develop, we must forge a national strength of character that defies threats and violence and resists might. Seventy years ago, imperialism took the fever of war to the doorstep of the new China. The Chinese people have a profound understanding that to deal with aggressors, you must speak to them in a language they understand. That means to stop war by war, to ban the spear by military means, to be victorious to win the peace and to win respect. The Chinese people don’t cause trouble, nor are they afraid of trouble. When they confront difficulties and danger, their calves won’t tremble and their waists won’t bend. The Chinese nation can’t be frightened and not be defeated!

無論時代如何發展，我們都要砥礪不畏強暴、反抗強權的民族風骨。70年前，帝國主義侵略者將戰火燒到了新中國的家門口。中國人民深知，對待侵略者，就得用他們聽得懂的語言同他們對話，這就是以戰止戰、以武止戈，用勝利贏得和平、贏得尊重。中國人民不惹事也不怕事，在任何困難和風險面前，腿肚子不會抖，腰桿子不會彎，中華民族是嚇不倒、壓不垮的！

No matter how the times develop, we must unite the masses and join the national forces. In the war to resist the US and aid Korea, the Chinese people, rallying for the cause against the common enemy, joining against the enemy with the same anger, worked as one, let the world witness the enormous power of the Chinese people, and let the world know that “now that the Chinese people have organized, they must not be angered. If angered, they won’t be easily dealt with!

無論時代如何發展，我們都要匯聚萬眾一心、勠力同心的民族力量。在抗美援朝戰爭中，中國人民在愛國主義旗幟感召下，同仇敵愾、同心協力，讓世界見證了蘊含在中國人民之中的磅薄力量，讓世界知道了“現在中國人民已經組織起來了，是惹不得的。如果惹翻了，是不好辦的”！

No matter how the times develop, we must forge a national character that is brave without thought of personal safety, a reborn national staunchness. On the Korean battlefields, the volunteer army’s officers and soldiers faced a strong and cruel enemy, and in a bad and cruel war environment, with skulls flying and blood being spilled, they put up a fighting spirit against overwhelming steel and wrote a majestic epos that scared heaven and earth and made supernational beings cry. The volunteer army’s officers and soldiers charged bravely through rains of bullets, held fast to their positions through indiscriminate bombardments, filling the breaches with their chests, used their bodies as human ladders, stormed into the enemies’ ranks with grenades in their hands, endured hunger and frost without ever shrinking back, giving their lives with burning bodies, “up the hills and skies with their bayonets”.

無論時代如何發展，我們都要鍛造舍生忘死、向死而生的民族血性。在朝鮮戰場上，志願軍將士面對強大而兇狠的作戰對手，身處惡劣而殘酷的戰場環境，拋頭顱、灑熱血，以“鋼少氣多”力克“鋼多氣少”，譜寫了驚天地、泣鬼神的雄壯史詩。
志願軍將士冒著槍林彈雨勇敢衝鋒，頂著狂轟濫炸堅守陣地，用胸膛堵槍眼，以身軀作人梯，抱起炸藥包、手握爆破筒衝入敵群，忍饑受凍絕不退縮，烈火燒身巋然不動，敢于“空中拼刺刀”。在他們中涌現出楊根思、黃繼光、邱少雲等30多萬名英雄功臣和近6000個功臣集體。英雄們説：我們的身後就是祖國，為了祖國人民的和平，我們不能後退一步！這種血性令敵人膽寒，讓天地動容！

No matter how the times develop, we must arouse national wisdom correctly, with innovation and courage. Those brave enough to innovate will advance further, those good at creating will be victorious. The officers and soldiers of the volunteer army were facing an unfamiliar battlefield and an unfamiliar enemy. They adhered to “You make use of what you have, I’ll make use of what I have, and when you use an atomic bomb, I will use my handgrenade”, giving full play to flexible and mobile strategies and tactics. Facing risks and challenges of all kinds facing all kinds of resistance and pressure, the Chinese people will always open roads across the mountain tops, build bridges when encountering waters, show great wisdom and courage, forge ahead with determination and “pave a bloody road”!

無論時代如何發展，我們都要激發守正創新、奮勇向前的民族智慧。勇于創新者進，善于創造者勝。志願軍將士面對陌生的戰場、陌生的敵人，堅持“你打你的，我打我的，你打原子彈，我打手榴彈”，把靈活機動戰略戰術發揮得淋漓盡致。面對來自各方面的風險挑戰，面對各種阻力壓力，中國人民總能逢山開路、遇水架橋，總能展現大智大勇、銳意開拓進取，“殺出一條血路”！

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Xi Jinping’s “Resisting U.S. speech”: a few remarks

Curt publication

What strikes me while translating Xi Jinping’s October 23 speech, commemorating the Korean War, is Beijing’s departure from seeking truth in the facts. Contrary to what Xi tells in his “majestic epic that scared heaven and earth and made supernatural beings cry” (驚天地、泣鬼神的雄壯史詩), China was involved in North Korea’s and Russia’s war preparations, although probably rather passively and not enthusiastically. China supported an enabled an aggression, rather than defending itself against one. Xi, in his speech, emphasized the need to be “brave to be innovative” so as to “advance further”, and to be “good at creating” so as to be “victorious” (勇于創新者進，善于創造者勝). And if being inventive enough seventy years later to win the Korean War after all (or at least make it useful), so be it, seems to be Xi’s line of thought.

But what is the use of it? The next batches of translation may turn out to be self-explanatory, though there is probably always room for different interpretations. In Xi’s view, China is in dire need of an army that will not only defend the country or to quash uprisings, but that will also be able to invade, for example, Taiwan.

To arouse a “spirit” that defies death, Xi rewrites history. Doing that has a long imperial tradition in China, but to lie as fundamentally as Xi did on October 23 marks a revival of faking the records that hasn’t been seen for decades.

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