Xi Jinping recognises ‘foot soldiers’ as Communist Party looks to grass-roots power base
- New medal awarded to cadres working in areas ranging from defending Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea to environmental conservation
- Recipients represent almost all policy priorities and the list shows president sees danger of the party losing touch with the people, according to analyst
Xi, who is also the party chief, called on the rank and file to learn from the 29 role models – three of whom were awarded the medal posthumously.
“Their deeds can be learned and done [by all] and their spirit can be followed and adopted [by all],” Xi said.
“Their actions proved that as long as [our] ideals and beliefs are firm, the will to struggle is solid, with perseverance and resilience, every party member can contribute to the party and the people’s great cause of national rejuvenation by doing outstanding work in ordinary days, standing out at crucial moments, and being willing to sacrifice at critical junctures.”
He also called on party organisations to “vigorously publicise the touching deeds and noble morals” of the award recipients.
“[We should] encourage party members and cadres to keep in mind the nature and purpose of the party, the original mission of the party, work tirelessly and fight non-stop, on the new journey of building a socialist modern country comprehensively, and marching towards the second centenary goal and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Xi said.
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The children of Qu Qiubai and Li Dazhao, two founding party members, also received medals, but there were no senior party leaders, army generals or business elites on the list.
Deng Yuwen, a former deputy editor of the party’s Study Times publication, said almost all of Xi’s policy priorities were represented in the recipient list.
“Xi is certainly aware of the danger of the party losing touch with the people. He gave almost all the awards to frontline cadres as he wants to win the support of the grass roots, who are the power base of the Communist Party,” he added.
The new awards are part of Xi’s strategy to drive the vast party and government apparatus to work on his vision, according to Wu Junfei, deputy director of the Tianda Institute, a think tank in Hong Kong.
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“You have to use both carrots and sticks. Xi has been pushing ahead with a massive anti-corruption campaign [since he took power] and sent hundreds of inspection teams to rein in local cadres and make sure they do their jobs,” Wu said. “But [the awards] show that the party central is prepared to reward those who work hard and dutifully, and also demonstrate integrity and loyalty.”
Since Xi took power in 2012, he has sought to institutionalise party regulations and formalities, including the granting of national medals and honorary titles, to shore up his authority. A new regulation was introduced on Tuesday on the use of the party’s flag and emblem.
Deng said defining the rules on party and state ceremonies was important for Xi’s agenda.
“There is an old Chinese saying, ‘The most important affairs in a country are ceremonies and wars’ – Xi wants full control over both,” he said.
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Xie Maosong, a political scientist at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the July 1 Medal recipients would become “future vehicles” for the party to instil its values into younger generations.
“While there are military heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the country, these ordinary heroes are closer to the ordinary people and they can share their values,” Xie said.
Deng noted that awarding the medal to children of party founders sent a subtle message to princelings to “stay clean”. “Qu and Li have been praised for their ‘lofty demeanour’, they are said to have never asked the party for privilege or personal benefit,” he said.
