Liu Jianjun & Wei Wei: Theoretical Connotation, Value Significance, and Practical Paths of the "Three Musts"

[Abstract] The important thesis of the "Three Musts," proposed in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), represents the fundamental purpose, the conduct to be upheld, and the spirit to be carried forward that Chinese Communists must always follow on the new journey in the New Era. From the perspective of theoretical logic, as the CPC is a Marxist governing party, the "Three Musts" are rooted in the Marxist theory of the party. From the perspective of value significance, the "Three Musts" serve as the ideological weapon and the "code for struggle" for strengthening Party building and comprehensively advancing the great new blueprint in the New Era. From the perspective of the practical path, we must begin by strengthening ideals and convictions, focus on improving quality and cultivating conduct, and emphasize the fulfillment of responsibilities and institutional norms. Through the great practice of actively implementing the "Three Musts," we shall coalesce the majestic power of the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation in united struggle, writing an even more brilliant chapter for socialism with Chinese characteristics.

[Keywords] Communist Party of China; "Three Musts"; "Two Musts"

The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC proposed the new thesis of the "Three Musts," stating: "The comrades of the entire Party must never forget the original aspiration and founding mission; must remain modest, prudent, and hardworking; and must dare to struggle and be good at struggle, strengthening historical confidence and enhancing historical initiative, to write an even more brilliant chapter for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era." ^[1] The important thesis of the "Three Musts" is a summary of historical experience by the Party Central Committee, based on the new changes in the world, national, and Party conditions and the new demands of the people in the New Era. It constitutes new and higher-standard political requirements and a political mobilization issued to the entire Party at the critical moment of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and marching toward the Second Centenary Goal ^[1]. Deeply understanding the historical trajectory from the "Two Musts" to the "Three Musts," and researching the theoretical connotations, value significance, and practical paths of the "Three Musts," is of great theoretical and practical significance for improving the quality of Party building and successfully navigating the "new journey to take the exams" ^[2] in the New Era.

I. The Historical Trajectory from the "Two Musts" to the "Three Musts"

1. The Proposal of the "Two Musts" The "Two Musts" is an important thesis proposed by Mao Zedong to the entire Party on the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China. After 28 years of struggle, our Party overcame numerous difficulties and obstacles and was about to achieve a comprehensive victory in the New Democratic Revolution and take the reins of national power. In March 1949, at the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh CPC Central Committee, Mao Zedong provided a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the situation facing the Party and its ideological state, solemnly issuing the warning of the "Two Musts": "The Chinese revolution is great, but the road after the revolution will be longer, the work will be greater and more arduous. This must be made clear to the Party now. The comrades must be taught to remain modest, prudent and free from arrogance and rashness in their style of work [N]; the comrades must be taught to preserve the style of hardworking struggle." ^[2] To ensure the "Two Musts" were deeply ingrained in people's hearts, the Party Central Committee proposed corresponding institutional norms, internalizing the requirements of the "Two Musts" into the construction of the intra-Party democracy system. For example, the famous "Six Noes" ^[3] regulations: "First, no birthday celebrations. Birthdays do not make one live longer; the main thing is to do the work well. Second, no gift-giving. At least not within the Party. Third, less toasting. It is allowed on certain occasions. Fourth, less clapping. Do not prohibit it out of mass enthusiasm, but do not throw cold water on it either. Fifth, no naming places after people. Sixth, do not place Chinese comrades on par with Marx, Engels, Lenin, or Stalin." ^[3] This system played an active role in the early years of the New China and throughout the 1950s. The "Two Musts" embodied the scientific estimation by Chinese Communists, with Mao Zedong as their chief representative, regarding the long-term and arduous nature of China's revolution and construction. It was a profound summary of our Party's journey of arduous struggle and a deep concern for how the soon-to-be-born people's regime would "preserve the patrimony" ^[4], providing an important ideological guarantee for the Party to lead the people in achieving the historical transition from New Democracy to socialism.

2. The Reiteration of the "Two Musts" Following Mao Zedong's proposal of the "Two Musts," our Party and state leaders have consistently reiterated and emphasized them with a sense of vigilance against potential perils ^[5] and a high degree of attention to the Party's conduct. On the basis of summarizing the experiences and lessons of governing the Party and the country since the founding of the New China, Deng Xiaoping required Party members and cadres to inherit and develop the fine traditions and conduct of being modest, prudent, and hardworking. He vigorously advocated the spirit of arduous entrepreneurship and insisted on the "Two Musts." On more than one occasion, he exhorted the entire Party that "for China to achieve the Four Modernizations, we must engage in arduous entrepreneurship honestly," ^[4] and "we must still 'keep our tails between our legs' ^[6], be very prudent, and struggle hard." ^[5] In August 1984, he wrote the inscription for the Xibaipo Memorial Hall, expressing his high respect for the revolutionary sacred site where Mao Zedong proposed the "Two Musts." In March 1989, addressing the situation where extravagance and corruption were spreading among Party members and cadres since the beginning of reform and opening up, he sharply pointed out that even when the economy has seen gratifying development and the people's standard of living has improved, the people—including Communist Party members—can only resist corruption by persevering in the tradition of hardworking struggle. Jiang Zemin closely linked the "Two Musts" with the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics, making it a powerful spiritual force for our Party to open up new horizons. In September 1991, he visited Xibaipo and wrote the inscription: "Keep the 'Two Musts' firmly in mind, build socialism with Chinese characteristics." In November 2001, during an inspection tour in Hebei, he emphasized the need to carry out extensive education on the "Two Musts" among Party members and cadres in light of new realities, ensuring that all comrades maintain a clear head in the complex international and domestic environments, stay vigilant against peril, and work solidly for the country and the people. Hu Jintao emphasized the "Two Musts" on many occasions. In December 2002, shortly after taking office, he led the members of the Secretariat of the Central Committee to Xibaipo for study, proposing to keep the "Two Musts" firmly in mind and calling on all comrades, especially leading cadres, to start with themselves and vigorously carry forward the style of hardworking struggle. In July 2003, at a seminar on the Theory of Three Represents, he warned the entire Party to closely link their own ideological reality, strengthen the ideals and convictions of Communists, improve their ideological and political level, enhance their moral cultivation, keep the "Two Musts" in mind, and use the results of transforming their subjective world to promote the transformation of the objective world. In December 2008, at the meeting commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, he required the broad masses of Party members and cadres to put the interests of the Party and the people first, keep the "Two Musts" in mind, and ensure that "power is used for the people, emotions are tied to the people, and benefits are sought for the people." ^[6]

3. From the "Two Musts" to the "Three Musts" Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has mentioned the "Two Musts" on various occasions and developed them into the "Three Musts." In April 2013, during the fifth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, he warned all comrades to be ideologically alert, keep the "Two Musts" in mind, unswervingly change their conduct and oppose corruption, and continuously win the people's trust with new progress and achievements in anti-corruption and integrity building. In July 2013, during another visit to Xibaipo, he posed a series of questions and reflections: "Every time I come to Xibaipo, I think most about what considerations Mao Zedong had in mind when he proposed the 'Two Musts.' Is there anything we have not studied deeply or thoroughly enough? The 'Two Musts' are household words, but in the current situation, can we deeply comprehend them so they better guide current Party building? How do we carry them forward in light of the new situation today?" ^[7] At the symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of Mao Zedong's birth, he called on the entire Party to keep the "Two Musts" in mind, solve the historical challenge of "rising and falling rapidly" ^[7], and enhance the consciousness of the Party managing itself and governing itself strictly. In June 2014, while presiding over the 16th collective study session of the Political Bureau on strengthening and improving the system of conduct, he emphasized educating and guiding all comrades, especially leading cadres at all levels, to persist in the "Two Musts," consciously striving for the Party and the people without ceasing. They must not be complacent or blindly optimistic; they must not be confined to the present or neglect the long term; they must not cover up contradictions or avoid problems; and they must not indulge in pleasure or compete in ostentation. In January 2022, at a seminar for principal officials at the provincial and ministerial levels on studying and implementing the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, he summarized the century-long journey of the Party Central Committee's governance and self-revolution, emphasizing that the Party must always persist in the "Two Musts" in its process of self-construction.

The "Three Musts" represent an enrichment and development of the "Two Musts." Content-wise, based on the original "must remain modest, prudent, and free from arrogance and rashness" and "must preserve the style of hardworking struggle," the "Three Musts" adds two more "musts," making the ideological content richer. In terms of scope, the "Three Musts" does not only set requirements for conduct but also raises higher standards for ideals, convictions, and spiritual temperament, highlighting our Party's historical responsibility in leading the people to advance the great cause of rejuvenation. The proposal of the "Three Musts" has deep realistic roots and practical foundations; it is the inevitable choice for solving the "unique challenges of a large party" under new historical conditions. As the world's largest Marxist governing party, to always win the people's support and consolidate its long-term governing position, the CPC must stay sober and determined in solving the unique challenges of a large party. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has advanced comprehensively and strictly governing the Party with the "spirit of driving a nail," ^[8] eliminating serious hidden dangers within the Party, the state, and the military, and winning the heartfelt support of the masses. On the "new journey to take the exams," our Party faces the long-standing "Four Tests" and "Four Dangers" ^[9]. As a century-old party committed to the eternal cause of the Chinese nation, it inevitably faces unique challenges distinct from other political parties. Mao Zedong proposed the firsthand answer of "letting the people supervise the government," while General Secretary Xi Jinping provided the second answer: "self-revolution." The "Three Musts" are an inherent part and an inevitable requirement of this second answer.

II. The Theoretical Connotations, Value Significance, and Practical Path of "Must Never Forget the Original Aspiration and Founding Mission"

1. Theoretical Connotations "Must never forget the original aspiration and founding mission" is a concentrated expression of the CPC's ideals, convictions, nature, and purpose. It is deeply rooted in the scientific theory of Marxism and the great practice of the Party's century of struggle, containing profound ideological connotations. Although "original aspiration" and "mission" have different emphases in expression, the two are closely linked and organically unified. Both are based on the interests of the people and reflect our Party's fundamental people-centered stance. "Original aspiration" is the logical starting point of "mission," while "mission" is the inevitable destination of the "original aspiration." Precisely because of this, the two are fused into the new expression "original aspiration and founding mission" (chūxīn shǐmìng). "Must never forget the original aspiration and founding mission" answers the questions of "what is" our Party and "what is it going to do." It embodies the Party's nature, purpose, goals, tasks, and value pursuits. It requires us to strengthen our faith in Marxism, our ideal of communism, and our conviction in socialism with Chinese characteristics; to keep in mind the fundamental purpose of serving the people whole-heartedly; to never forget "who I am" and "for whom I work"; and to always seek happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.

2. Value Significance "Must never forget the original aspiration and founding mission" is the persistence in the Marxist faith, the communist ideal, and the conviction in socialism with Chinese characteristics. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The original aspiration of Communists comes not only from a simple feeling for the people and a persistent pursuit of truth but is built upon the scientific theory of Marxism. Only by adhering to ideological Party building and strengthening the Party through theory can we become more conscious in not forgetting our original aspiration and more determined in shouldering our mission." ^[8] "Must never forget the original aspiration and founding mission" highly summarizes the Party's historical mission and fundamental purpose, reflecting a steadfast faith in Marxism and a value orientation that unifies Party spirit with people-centeredness. Under the guidance of Marxism, the CPC always interprets the original aspiration and founding mission within the organic unity of the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the lofty ideal of communism. Our Party's fulfillment of the promise to "never forget the original aspiration and founding mission" cannot be separated from the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the persistence in the lofty ideal of communism.

"Ensuring we never forget our original aspiration and founding mission" embodies our Party's people-centered value stance and its commitment to serving the people whole-heartedly. The standpoint of the people is the fundamental position of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as the starting point and ultimate goal of all its work. Being people-centered is the core essence of the CPC upholding its original aspiration and undertaking its mission. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress once again emphasized "putting the people above all else" and pointed out the vital significance of the "people-centered nature" (人民性 ^[10]) for Marxism, Party theory, and innovative practice. Theory that is divorced from the people and does not benefit the people is pale, feeble, and devoid of vitality. Therefore, we must firmly stand with the people, grasp their aspirations, respect their creativity, and pool their wisdom to form theories that are loved, recognized, and possessed by the people, making them a powerful ideological weapon for the people to understand and transform the world. "Ensuring we never forget our original aspiration and founding mission" manifests the organic unity of seeking happiness for the people and seeking rejuvenation for the nation, reflecting the long-standing and unchanging value orientation of Chinese Communists.

"Ensuring we never forget our original aspiration and founding mission" is the powerful spiritual motivation for embarking on the new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects and marching toward the Second Centenary Goal. The original aspiration and mission are the potent forces that inspire Chinese Communists to press forward continuously. Completing the comprehensive building of a great modern socialist country and achieving the Second Centenary Goal will inevitably be fraught with various risks and challenges. "Ensuring we never forget our original aspiration and founding mission" provides the spiritual strength and the greatest confidence for the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups to struggle indefatigably. It helps the Party unite and lead the entire nation to firmly and with one heart build the Chinese Dream ^[11]; it helps guide and calibrate the direction of progress, ensuring our cause always advances along the correct path of seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation; and it helps stimulate the strength for struggle, leading the people of the whole country to follow one after another in courageous pursuit of the established goals.

3. Path of Practice "Ensuring we never forget our original aspiration and founding mission" is an eternal theme for strengthening Party building. We must ensure that the original aspiration and mission are cast firmly in the hearts of all Party comrades and take root in the depths of their thoughts, becoming an inexhaustible drive for tempering ahead and striving for achievements.

We must strengthen party history study and education and the infusion of the Party's innovative theories, firmly establishing the conviction among all Party comrades to always "listen to the Party and follow the Party." Studying the Party’s innovative theories must be the top priority of ideological arming, because political steadfastness comes from theoretical clarity. In particular, we must deeply study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and profoundly comprehend the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments." Only in this way can we deepen the understanding of all Party comrades regarding the Party’s innovative theories and the major policies of the Party Central Committee, enhancing their consciousness and firmness in implementation. This will allow all Party comrades to build a solid foundation of faith, replenish the "spiritual calcium," and take hold of the "ideological rudder," continuously improving their political judgment, political understanding, and political execution, while self-consciously enhancing the "Four Consciousnesses," strengthening the "Four Confidences," and achieving the "Two Upholds." At the same time, we must firm up our political direction through the mirror of history. Through regular study of Party history, we should educate and guide all comrades, especially young cadres, to remember where we came from and where we are going. This will help them more profoundly experience how hard-won the Red power ^[12], the New China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics have been, and more deeply grasp the logic of why Marxism works, why the CPC is capable, and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good (the "Three Whys" ^[13]), thereby firming up the political conviction to listen to and follow the Party from the depths of their thoughts.

We must establish and improve the institutional system for "never forgetting our original aspiration and founding mission" to stimulate the sense of responsibility among all Party comrades to uphold their aspiration and undertake their mission. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee proposed establishing a system for never forgetting the original aspiration and founding mission. In establishing this system, we must take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide, the Party Constitution as our basic basis, and the intra-Party regulations formulated since the 18th National Congress as our follow-up. We should focus on the "four focuses and four constructions," forming quantifiable standards and institutional norms that are operable and evaluable. We should focus on normalizing theoretical arming by constructing a study and education system for never forgetting the original aspiration and founding mission to mobilize the interest and enthusiasm of all comrades, appreciate the spiritual depth of the "Red gene," and improve the ideological level and political literacy for upholding the aspiration and mission. We should focus on the fulfillment of duties by constructing a quantitative evaluation system for cadres regarding their original aspiration and mission, establishing horizontal and vertical quantitative standards and codes of conduct based on different positions. We should focus on tapping internal motivation by constructing an incentive and disciplinary system for never forgetting the original aspiration and founding mission to stimulate the internal drive to be brave and adept in taking responsibility, while curbing negative behaviors like inaction or chaotic action, thus forming a healthy mechanism of striving upward and competing for excellence. We should focus on strengthening organizational leadership by constructing an organizational guarantee system under the leadership of the Party Central Committee and the responsibility of Party committees at all levels, clarifying responsibilities and formulating norms for every level.

We must practice the fundamental purpose of whole-heartedly serving the people and implement the Party's mass line. The mass line is our Party’s lifeline and fundamental working line, and it is also an important "magic weapon" ^[14] for consolidating and adhering to our original aspiration. Only by persisting in "from the masses, to the masses," promptly mastering the expectations of the masses, and responding to their concerns can we maintain the flesh-and-blood ties between the Party and the people. We must persist in doing practical things and solving difficult problems for the masses. We should always take the people's yearning for a better life as our goal, striving to solve the "worrisome, annoying, and distressing" matters that the people most urgently expect us to address, thereby continuously improving the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security. We must persist in leading by example. Leading organs and cadres at all levels should take the lead in being good public servants, maintaining contact with the masses, and solving the people's worries, using the demonstration and leadership of the "key few" to drive the "vast majority," ensuring that the responsibility of serving the people is implemented and takes root.

III. The Theoretical Essence, Value Significance, and Practical Path of "Ensuring We Remain Modest, Prudent, and Hardworking"

1. Theoretical Essence "Ensuring we remain modest, prudent, and hardworking" emphasizes the virtues that Communist Party members ought to possess, and it is a basic requirement of the Party's cause for every member. From a philosophical perspective, if arrogance, complacency, and stagnation essentially correspond to an isolated, static, and one-sided metaphysical worldview, then being modest, prudent, and hardworking embodies a dialectical materialistic attitude of connection, development, and comprehensiveness. From the perspective of its essential connotation, the core of "ensuring we remain modest, prudent, and hardworking" is to require members and cadres, after the victory of the revolution, to be open-minded and modest, to not rest on their laurels, to not divorce themselves from the masses, and to never become complacent or slack.

Modesty and prudence represent an attitude of seeking truth from facts and being serious and rigorous. This requires us to value objective reality, recognize our achievements and existing problems with a clear head, and understand the relationship between the subjective and the objective, and between the individual and the masses. It emphasizes having a spirit of self-improvement in learning, viewing learning as a never-ending process of self-perfection, drawing nourishment from exchanges with the masses and from advanced foreign experiences. It also emphasizes the awareness of potential danger in times of peace (居安思危 ^[15]), maintaining a sense of problem-awareness even in the face of achievements and victories, and clearly seeing the difficulties and risks on the road ahead. Only with a modest and prudent attitude can one discover one's own shortcomings and mistakes in a timely manner, consciously accept criticism from others, and subsequently correct mistakes and continue to improve.

Hard struggle (艰苦奋斗) is a fighting spirit of self-discipline and self-strengthening, and a proactive action of facing difficulties and pressing forward. Its connotation has four aspects: First, the willpower of self-strengthening, emphasizing the tenacious will to overcome all difficulties; second, the vitality of remaining forever advanced. The Party's advanced nature is not a hollow or abstract concept; it must be manifested through the pioneering practice of hard struggle and verified in the practice of pushing history forward and leading social development. Third, the affinity of governing for the people. As a proletarian party governing for the people, only by maintaining a modest, prudent, and hardworking mentality and state can its heart be tied to the people, its power used for the people, and its enthusiasm devoted to serving the masses. Fourth, the creativity oriented toward the future. Hard struggle is for the sake of creating the future. Facing the unpredictable difficulties and challenges of the new journey, only through hard struggle and facing challenges head-on can we write a historical chapter of unity, struggle, and endeavor.

2. Value Significance "Ensuring we remain modest, prudent, and hardworking" helps our Party maintain the political character of a proletarian party in the New Era. The CPC is a proletarian party that persists in governing for the people and serving the people heart and soul; this determines that our Party must be modest, prudent, and hardworking. This requirement reflects the enduring essence of the Marxist party regardless of the historical conditions or the nature of the tasks faced.

"Ensuring we remain modest, prudent, and hardworking" helps our Party carry forward its fine traditions in the New Era. The century-long history of the CPC is a history of hard struggle—hacking through thorns and brambles (筚路蓝缕 ^[16]), enduring wind and rain (栉风沐雨 ^[17]), remaining united and unyielding for the interests of the country, the nation, and the people. Modesty, prudence, and hard struggle are the "Red genes" passed down through the generations in the growing body of our Party. It is precisely the continuous inheritance and promotion of these fine traditions that have allowed our Party's cause to constantly achieve historical successes and undergo historical transformations, remaining at the forefront of the tide of historical development. On the new journey of the New Era, only by vigorously promoting the spirit of modesty, prudence, and hard struggle can we continue the Red gene and carry forward the Party's glorious traditions and fine style.

"Ensuring we remain modest, prudent, and hardworking" helps our Party maintain its advanced nature and purity in the New Era. Advanced nature and purity are the lifeblood of our Party and the essential attributes of a Marxist party. For the Party to strengthen and improve its own building, it must struggle against all phenomena that weaken its advanced nature or damage its purity, "clearing the muddy water and bringing in the fresh" (激浊扬清 ^[18]). On the new journey of leading the people in united struggle, the "Four Tests" and "Four Dangers" ^[19] facing the Party will exist for a long time. Only by carrying forward the spirit of modesty, prudence, and hard struggle can we ensure that our Party maintains its advanced nature and purity, never changing its quality, its color, or its "flavor."

3. Path of Practice We must strengthen Party spirit cultivation (党性修养) and maintain the political character of being modest, prudent, and hardworking. Liu Shaoqi pointed out in How to Be a Good Communist (论共产党员的修养): "Our members must temper themselves and strengthen their cultivation not only in difficult, arduous, and even failing revolutionary practice, but also in smooth, successful, and victorious revolutionary practice." General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that Party spirit education is a compulsory course for Communists to rectify their hearts and cultivate their characters—the "study of the heart" (心学 ^[20]) for Communists. Facing new situations, requirements, and tests, all comrades must compare themselves against the nature and purpose of the Party and the requirements of the Party Constitution, continuously strengthening their study, education, and ideological tempering, and frequently performing self-reflection to enhance their awareness of Party spirit and keep the political character of a Communist.

We must strengthen education in Red traditions and continue the spiritual lineage of being modest, prudent, and hardworking. These virtues are traditional merits of the Chinese nation and fine traditions of our Party. We must follow the requirement to "make good use of Red resources, carry forward Red traditions, and pass on the Red gene," using vivid and popular methods to widely carry out education on the Party's fine traditions. This will activate the Red gene, tell Red stories well, and pass on the Red spirit, replenishing the "spiritual calcium" of modesty, prudence, and hard struggle among cadres.

We must strengthen the building of Party conduct and clean government to build a "firewall" of modesty, prudence, and hard struggle. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "As the world's largest party, no external force can knock us down; only we ourselves can knock ourselves down." The closer we are to our great goals, the more we must guard against a mentality of slackness born of long-standing peace, and the more we must be modest and prudent, as if "treading on thin ice or standing at the edge of an abyss" (如临深渊、如履薄冰 ^[21]). The further we are from the hardships of our beginning, the more we must maintain a clear head and high self-discipline, and the more we must engage in hard struggle, facing challenges head-on and persisting over the long term. Facing the "Four Tests" and "Four Dangers" on the "new road to the exam," only by continuously strengthening the building of Party conduct and the anti-corruption struggle can we build a firewall of modesty, prudence, and hard struggle, consciously resisting complacency and decadent thoughts ideologically, and remaining public servants of the people forever.

IV. The Theoretical Essence, Value Significance, and Practical Path of "Ensuring We Have the Courage and Ability to Struggle"

1. Theoretical Essence

Having the courage and the ability to struggle has deep roots in Marxist theoretical tradition and is an inherent spiritual character of Marxism. The critical and revolutionary nature of materialist dialectics dictates that Marxism must necessarily contain the concept of struggle, and a Marxist party must necessarily possess the practical character of having the courage and the ability to struggle. The universality of contradiction determines the universality of struggle. As it has been noted, "Society advances through the movement of contradictions; where there are contradictions, there will be struggle." ^[32] It is precisely because the two opposing aspects of a contradiction within a thing are both unified and in struggle with each other that the continuous development and change of things themselves and the realization of progress in human society are facilitated. Engels once said, "Contradictions can never be masked for long; they are always resolved through struggle." ^[33] Marxism aims to resolve real-world contradictions and transform the objective world; therefore, it must possess the characteristic of struggle. As a Marxist party, the Communist Party of China has integrated the spirit of struggle into its blood and soul, taking the struggle for human liberation as its lifelong mission.

The requirement to "remain courageous and adept in struggle" is a key proposition put forward based on Marxism and in light of China's current reality. Its essential connotation is to crack hard nuts, overcome difficulties, and engage in tenacious striving through practice. "Courage to struggle" refers to always maintaining a firm will to struggle, preserving a tenacious spirit of struggle, and having the practical courage to take on responsibilities. "Being adept in struggle" refers to having the practical wisdom to respond flexibly to various contradictions and conflicts, and honing the true skills and mastery required for struggle. The two are mutually reinforcing and unified. In his speech at the summary meeting of the "staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission" ^[22] theme education campaign, General Secretary Xi Jinping elucidated the essential connotation of the spirit of struggle and revealed the motivations for carrying forward the CPC's spirit of struggle in the New Era. He made it clear that having the courage and ability to struggle is "to realize the people's yearning for a better life and to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by bearing heavy burdens, working hard and practically, and overcoming formidable difficulties." ^[34]

2. Value Significance

"Remaining courageous and adept in struggle" helps in upholding and improving Party leadership. The great achievements of our Party since the beginning of Reform and Opening-up have proven that the path of socialism with Chinese characters is the correct choice of the Party and the people, and is the only path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Party leadership is the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Without Party leadership, maintaining a steady course on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and achieving the Second Centenary Goal ^[23] would vanish like pipe dreams. We must, through the courage and ability to struggle, resolutely combat all words and deeds that weaken, distort, or deny the Party's leadership; resolutely combat all behaviors characterized by passivity, corruption, alienation from the masses, or those that harm the Party's image; and resolutely combat all words and deeds that distort or deny the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only then can we ensure the Party remains the leading core of social revolution and maintains a steady and solid progress along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

"Remaining courageous and adept in struggle" helps in completing the arduous tasks of reform, development, and stability. The 20th CPC National Congress drew a new blueprint, issued a new call, and proposed new tasks. To complete these tasks and achieve these goals, the arduousness and complexity are unprecedented, while risks and challenges are unpredictable. This dictates that we must be courageous and adept in struggle, dare to change, and dare to innovate. We must break through the shackles of old thinking, conceptual barriers, and the "fences" of vested interests ^[24]. Only by "gnawing on the hard bones" ^[25] and eliminating the "tigers in the road" on the path ahead can we ensure healthy economic development and overall social harmony and stability.

"Remaining courageous and adept in struggle" helps in responding to a complex and ever-changing external environment. At present, the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century at an accelerated pace. Traditional and non-traditional security threats such as hegemonism, power politics, unilateralism, cyber threats, and ecological destruction are interwoven. This has brought many uncertain and unstable complex factors to the external environment, as political maneuvering, economic competition, and cultural confrontation between major powers become increasingly intense. The reason China has been able to achieve a series of world-renowned great successes—demonstrating Chinese wisdom, Chinese power, and Chinese solutions to the international community, and significantly enhancing its international influence and status—is that the CPC and the Chinese people possess a firm will and tenacious spirit of struggle. Only by continuing to carry forward our Party's spirit of being courageous and adept in struggle can we resolutely struggle against various forms of international unilateralism, trade protectionism, and acts of bullying, thereby maintaining national sovereignty and defending national interests.

3. Practical Path

Adhere to positions and principles, and maintain the correct direction of struggle. The prerequisite for being courageous and adept in struggle is to build a distinct political position and grasp the correct direction of struggle. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The struggle of Communists has a direction, a position, and principles. The general direction is to unswervingly uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China and our country’s socialist system. We must carry out resolute struggle against any risks or challenges that jeopardize the leadership of the CPC or the socialist system, national sovereignty, security, or development interests, our core interests and major principles, the fundamental interests of the people, or the realization of the 'Two Centenary Goals' and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Furthermore, we must achieve victory in these struggles." ^[35] On major issues of right and wrong concerning positions and principles, all Party comrades must remain steadfast and unswerving.

Carry forward the spirit of struggle and firm up the will to struggle. The century-long history of the Party is a history of struggle. The spirit of struggle is reflected not only in wartime but even more so in peacetime. All Party comrades must vigorously carry forward the fine tradition of being courageous and adept in struggle. We must thoroughly overcome and resolve the "laziness" resulting from a lack of will to struggle bred in a long-term peaceful environment, the "calcium deficiency" (weakness of bone) ^[26] manifested as an ambiguous attitude and unwillingness to struggle, and the "phobia" of avoiding contradictions and not daring to struggle. We must take the promotion of the spirit of struggle and the strengthening of the will to struggle as an unshirkable responsibility, remaining prepared for struggle at all times.

Enhance the ability to struggle and seize the initiative in struggle. Struggle cannot rely solely on determination and courage; it requires the wisdom and skill of being adept in struggle. All Party comrades must be well-versed in the Marxist position, viewpoint, and method. They must "study, understand, and implement" ^[27] the Party’s innovative theories, consolidate their theoretical foundation, and continuously improve their ability to analyze and judge the situation of struggle. It is necessary to strengthen one's own ideological tempering, political experience, practical training, and professional training. By constantly exploring the laws of struggle, learning the art of struggle, increasing wisdom, and improving actual combat capabilities, we can firmly hold the initiative in the complex and ever-changing struggles of the future.

Adhere to relying on the people and consolidate the forces of struggle. The people are the greatest source of confidence for our Party in advancing the Great Struggle. The reason the CPC is able to be courageous in struggle and defeat hardships and obstacles time and again is that the Party always adheres to the supremacy of the people, does everything for the people, relies on the people for everything, and continuously draws a powerful source of strength from the masses. To succeed on the "new journey to face the tests" (the new gan-kao road) ^[28] and achieve absolute victory in the Great Struggle of the New Era, we must always adhere to the fundamental position of putting the people at the center and seeking benefits for them. We must win the hearts of the people through the vivid practice of staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission, and gather the wisdom of the masses through the process of "from the masses, to the masses." Truly, the people must be the deepest source of the Party’s majestic power for struggle.

In conclusion, the "Three Requirements" represent a summary of experience refined from a century of Party history based on a "big picture view of history" (da lishi guan). They are the crystallization of wisdom from the great transformations of the first decade of the New Era. They constitute a major judgment made through profound analysis of the Party’s historical coordinates, the situation and tasks it faces, and the changes in the Party's internal condition. Moreover, they serve as a new warning, a new requirement, and a general mobilization issued to all Party comrades on the new gan-kao road. On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country and advancing toward the Second Centenary Goal, all Party comrades must, in the great practice of actively implementing the "Three Requirements," consolidate the majestic strength of the Chinese nation’s united struggle and write a more brilliant chapter of socialism with Chinese characteristics.