(90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March) How did the Long March go global?

China News Service, Beijing, October 19th. Question: How did the Long March go to the world?

——Exclusive interview with Sang Yuepeng, deputy editor of the Bureau of Foreign Cooperation and Exchange of the Central Academy of Party History and Documentation

Reporter Li Jingze

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army’s Long March. This majestic heroic epic has attracted worldwide attention for its profound connotation that transcends time, space and country.

How did the Long March go global? Recently, a reporter from China News Service conducted an exclusive interview with Sang Yuepeng, deputy editor of the Bureau of Foreign Cooperation and Exchange of the Central Academy of Party History and Documentation, to decode the international dissemination process of this expedition story.

The CCP’s overseas organizations play an important role in proactive propaganda

In the 1930s, the Paris National Monthly and the National Salvation Times, sponsored by the CCP delegation to the Comintern, were important channels for the party’s external communication. In the spring of 1936, Comrade Chen Yun, who participated in the Red Army's Long March, wrote "Records of His Journey to the West with the Army" under the pen name "Lian Chen" and was the first to be serialized in "National Monthly"; from 1936 to 1937, Comrade Deng Fa's "March on Snowy Mountains and Grasslands" and "From Gansu to Shanxi", written under the pseudonym "Yang Dinghua", began to be serialized in "National Salvation Times".

Sang Yuepeng said that with the help of the CCP’s overseas propaganda network and the information dissemination system of the overseas Chinese society, these works spread from Paris and Moscow to overseas Chinese inhabited areas in Europe, Southeast Asia and other places, all walks of life in the Communist International and the Soviet Union, and international progressive people who care about the Chinese revolution. They have become important documents that tell the story of the Long March to the world and win international support.

On September 11, "The spirit of the Long March shines in Yunling, and the original intention and mission will be passed on forever" - an exhibition of archives and documents of the Red Army's Long March in Yunnan was launched at the Kunming Museum. Photo by China News Service reporter Li Jiaxian

In her opinion, the above-mentioned works provide authoritative texts to enhance the international community's understanding of the Red Army's Long March. "Under the Kuomintang's strict news blockade, the outside world knew almost nothing about the Long March. The dissemination of these works timely filled the gap in the international community's understanding of the Red Army's Long March."

At the same time, these works broke the news blockade and reshaped the international image of the Chinese Communist Party and the Red Army. Those who witnessed it effectively refuted the Kuomintang's fabricated "banditry theory" with their real experiences, and showed the world the true face of the Red Army's justice, unity, and perseverance. These works closely linked the Communist Party of China and the Red Army with the cause of "resisting Japan and saving the nation," and shaped the true image of the Communist Party of China as a "correct and strong party" and a "party that pursues justice."

In addition, these works widely disseminated the feats of the Red Army's Long March and the Communist Party of China's anti-Japanese propositions, inspired overseas Chinese's patriotic enthusiasm, and enhanced their confidence in the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. Overseas Chinese donated money and materials to the domestic Anti-Japanese War. At the same time, the anti-Japanese struggle led by the Communist Party of China also won widespread sympathy and support from the international community. It was against this background that internationalist fighters such as Bethune and Kotnis, dispatched by communist parties and progressive organizations in various countries, resolutely devoted themselves to China's anti-war cause.

International friends promote the spread of Long March stories around the world

In October 1937, "Red Star Shines on China" written by American journalist Snow was published in the UK, which for the first time comprehensively reported to the world the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. The book immediately caused an international sensation after its publication. Within weeks, it was reprinted several times and sold more than 100,000 copies. Subsequently, the book was translated into multiple languages ​​and widely distributed around the world, becoming an important text for countries around the world to understand the Chinese Long March and the Chinese Revolution.

Looking back at history, there are many international friends like Snow. They played an important role in the worldwide dissemination of the Long March story. Through personal visits, on-site records and book translations, this heroic epic crossed national borders and was known to readers around the world.

Sang Yuepeng introduced that foreign missionaries represented by Bo Fuli and Lin Rongzhen walked part of the Long March with the Red Army. They recorded the Red Army's strict discipline and tenacious will from the unique perspective of those who experienced it; foreign journalists represented by Snow went to the Soviet area in northern Shaanxi for on-the-spot interviews, and comprehensively introduced the feats of the Red Army's Long March to the world with objective and true reports; foreign journalists such as Smedley and Bisen recorded and spread the spirit of the Long March from different angles by interviewing those who witnessed it. Their reports effectively broke the Kuomintang's news blockade and enabled the international community to understand the true face of the Red Army and the Long March.

On May 18, 2024, German writer Christian Schmidt (left) and Falk Hering rode on the streets of Zhidan County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Yuan

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the reform and opening up, the international community's understanding of the Long March has further increased. The famous American journalist Salisbury, the British young men Eddy Lee and Mapuan, the German travel writer Herring and his companion Schmidt have visited the Long March route and left behind distinctive documentary works. The significance of the Long March has transcended the scope of specific historical events and has increasingly become a bridge connecting China and the world. The common spiritual qualities contained in it, such as faith, tenacity, and fearlessness, transcend national boundaries and eras and arouse widespread spiritual resonance around the world.

The Long March is a mobile dialogue of civilizations

On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, many international friends visited the old revolutionary areas along the Long March, visited the red old sites, and experienced the spirit of the Long March on the spot.

"The reason why the Long March spirit can transcend cultures and remain timeless is that it demonstrates mankind's common pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. It is always admirable regardless of national boundaries and eras." Sang Yuepeng said.

She believes that at the individual level, the Long March embodies the transcendence of the limits of human will and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty, inspiring people to maintain faith and courage in the face of difficulties; at the political party level, the Long March reveals the valuable experience of a political party turning crises into vitality, and is the ultimate embodiment of a political party's faith, wisdom and vitality; at the national level, the Long March inspires the revolutionary consciousness of oppressed nations in pursuit of liberation, and injects confidence and strength into the liberation movement of oppressed nations.

On September 3, "Historical Echoes Across Mountains and Seas - International Friends Salon to Commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Red Army's Long March" was held in Beijing. The picture shows Ke Makai, chairman of the China Gonghe International Committee, introducing the historical photo exhibition of international friends. Photo by China News Service reporter Yang Yuran

At present, with the trend of anti-globalization on the rise and global development facing many difficulties, the spirit of the Long March has increasingly demonstrated its global significance that transcends the times. Sang Yuepeng said, "The Long March conveyed the Eastern answer of 'struggle and hope' to the world. Its core inspiration lies in: facing the intertwining of events with firm belief, resolving zero-sum games with unity and cooperation, breaking through the shackles of development with seeking truth from facts, and gathering joint efforts to move forward with the supremacy of the people."

The story of the Long March never ends. Sang Yuepeng said that the Long March has never been a dusty history, but a flowing dialogue of civilizations. Only by adhering to sincerity, innovation and empathy can the Long March spirit continue to cross mountains and seas and connect the world. (over)