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China Celebrates 70 Years of Communism Amid Mass Hong Kong Protests

Published October 2nd, 2019 - 07:01 GMT

China celebrated its 70 years of Communist Party rule on Tuesday, October 1st, 2019 at Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

During the ceremony President Xi Jinping said nothing could stymie China's progress. He called for unity while stating China is "committed to the strategy of peaceful reinforcement of one country, two systems," referring to Hong Kong unrest.

On the other hand, Hong Kong protesters, activists planned for the biggest showdown yet in nearly four months of clashes between demonstrators and police. These took place on the same day of the celebrations.

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A float with a giant portrait of China's President Xi Jinping passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

A float with a giant portrait of China's President Xi Jinping passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

Chinese performers dance at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP

Chinese performers dance at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP

Chinese dancers perform at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP

Chinese dancers perform at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP

Performers stand on the Xinjiang region float as it passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

Performers stand on the Xinjiang region float as it passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

Strife-torn Hong Kong on October 1 marked the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding with defiant "Day of Grief" protests and fresh clashes with police as pro-democracy activists ignored a ban and took to the streets across the city. Mark RALSTON / AFP

Strife-torn Hong Kong on October 1 marked the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding with defiant "Day of Grief" protests and fresh clashes with police as pro-democracy activists ignored a ban and took to the streets across the city. Mark RALSTON / AFP

A protester throws a tear gas canister fired by police in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP

A protester throws a tear gas canister fired by police in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP

A protester sets fire to the Chinese national flag in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as violent demonstrations take place in the streets of the city on the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP

A protester sets fire to the Chinese national flag in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as violent demonstrations take place in the streets of the city on the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP

A protester pours water on a tear gas cannister fired by police beside the Admiralty MTR station in Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. Mark RALSTON / AFP

A protester pours water on a tear gas cannister fired by police beside the Admiralty MTR station in Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. Mark RALSTON / AFP

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a military parade with former presidents Hu Jintao (L) and Jiang Zemin in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a military parade with former presidents Hu Jintao (L) and Jiang Zemin in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

Balloons fly past the national flag at the end of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

Balloons fly past the national flag at the end of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

A float with a giant portrait of China's President Xi Jinping passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Chinese performers dance at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP
Chinese dancers perform at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP
Performers stand on the Xinjiang region float as it passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Strife-torn Hong Kong on October 1 marked the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding with defiant "Day of Grief" protests and fresh clashes with police as pro-democracy activists ignored a ban and took to the streets across the city. Mark RALSTON / AFP
A protester throws a tear gas canister fired by police in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP
A protester sets fire to the Chinese national flag in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as violent demonstrations take place in the streets of the city on the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP
A protester pours water on a tear gas cannister fired by police beside the Admiralty MTR station in Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. Mark RALSTON / AFP
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a military parade with former presidents Hu Jintao (L) and Jiang Zemin in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Balloons fly past the national flag at the end of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
A float with a giant portrait of China's President Xi Jinping passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
A float with a giant portrait of China's President Xi Jinping passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Chinese performers dance at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP
Chinese performers dance at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP
Chinese dancers perform at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP
Chinese dancers perform at a gala in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. NOEL CELIS / AFP
Performers stand on the Xinjiang region float as it passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Performers stand on the Xinjiang region float as it passes by Tiananmen Square during the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Strife-torn Hong Kong on October 1 marked the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding with defiant "Day of Grief" protests and fresh clashes with police as pro-democracy activists ignored a ban and took to the streets across the city. Mark RALSTON / AFP
Strife-torn Hong Kong on October 1 marked the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding with defiant "Day of Grief" protests and fresh clashes with police as pro-democracy activists ignored a ban and took to the streets across the city. Mark RALSTON / AFP
A protester throws a tear gas canister fired by police in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP
A protester throws a tear gas canister fired by police in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP
A protester sets fire to the Chinese national flag in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as violent demonstrations take place in the streets of the city on the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP
A protester sets fire to the Chinese national flag in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as violent demonstrations take place in the streets of the city on the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP
A protester pours water on a tear gas cannister fired by police beside the Admiralty MTR station in Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. Mark RALSTON / AFP
A protester pours water on a tear gas cannister fired by police beside the Admiralty MTR station in Hong Kong on October 1, 2019, as the city observes the National Day holiday to mark the 70th anniversary of communist China's founding. Mark RALSTON / AFP
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a military parade with former presidents Hu Jintao (L) and Jiang Zemin in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) attends a military parade with former presidents Hu Jintao (L) and Jiang Zemin in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PeopleÕs Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Balloons fly past the national flag at the end of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP
Balloons fly past the national flag at the end of a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. GREG BAKER / AFP

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