Long March: Why it was a defining turning point in CPC history

Editor's note: Zhang Lei is an associate professor at the Joint Logistics College of PLA National Defense University.

The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

In modern Chinese and world history, the Long March stands out as a monumental event.

Spanning two years and covering vast swathes of China, this strategic military shift not only rescued the young Communist Party of China (CPC) from an existential crisis but also profoundly influenced the historical trajectory of both China and the wider world, cementing its status as a major turning point in the Party's century-long history.

The Long March of the 1930s was not a matter of subjective strategic preference; rather, it was an inevitable historical imperative – a decision forced upon the young CPC under extreme peril to preserve its revolutionary strength and the Red Army.

Following the defeat of the revolution in 1927, CPC members were never cowed by the enemy's reign of terror.

Pressing forward wave upon wave, regardless of personal sacrifice, they forged a path through bloodshed and sacrifice toward encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing state power by armed force, gradually building revolutionary momentum nationwide.

At its peak, the Red Army grew to a total force of 300,000, sending shockwaves through reactionary forces both at home and abroad.

Yet, amid this favorable momentum, the CPC leadership of the time fell under the sway of "Left-leaning" dogmatism that was divorced from China's actual conditions.

By blindly copying foreign models, they rejected and even discarded operational principles and institutional frameworks that had long proven effective for the Chinese Red Army, ultimately leading to the defeat of the fifth counter-encirclement and suppression campaign against the Kuomintang forces.

Consequently, the Red Army was forced to evacuate its Central Revolutionary Base Area and begin a strategic retreat.

The ultimate victory of the Long March completely altered the destiny of the CPC, laying an irreplaceable foundation for the Party's maturity, the eventual triumph of the Chinese revolution and the birth of a new China.

Its significance as a defining turning point resonates throughout the course of the revolution and national construction.

Specifically, this significance is manifested in several key aspects: First, the Long March propelled the CPC toward political independence and maturity.