On the 1st August 1927, the Chinese Communist Party launched the Nanchang Uprising , which marks the 1st shot of the armed resistance against the kuomintang reactionaries which started a new era in the creation of the People’s Army.
On the 11th July,1933, upon the decision of the provisional central government of the Soviet Republic of China, the 1st August was thereafter considered as the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, since then,1st August has become known as Army Day.
President Xi, on the 90th anniversary of the founding of the people’s liberation army, gave an important speech to commemorate the event in the Great Hall of the People on the 1st August, 2017:
“1st August 1927, the gunshot from Nanchang city has started the history of Chinese Communist Party’s armed resistance against the kuomintang reactionaries. It is a remarkable event in the history of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as in Chinese revolutionary history and China’s national development history.
Standing at a new historical starting point, we feel more deeply that the Chinese nation is dependent on a heroic people’s army, which saves its people from suffering and achieves liberation. To realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as well as to realize a better life for the Chinese people, we must accelerate the building of the people’s army into a world-class army. We should not forget our original intention and continue to move forward. We should unswervingly follow the path of building a strong army with Chinese characteristics and push forward the cause of building a strong army.”
As mentioned in Xi’s speech, the great historical achievement of this uprising is engraved in Chinese history. The blood of revolutionary martyrs helped to build a better life for all of us today.