Introduction
Whenever China’s domestic livelihood problems and public security scandals rise to the surface, the CCP rolls out grand military parades, hoping that martial music and missile displays can cover up public suffering. The tanks and warheads may look imposing, but they are only smoke and mirrors. Behind them lies real social anxiety: unemployment, economic decline, rampant fraud, and worsening public safety. Parades cannot solve these problems—they only reveal the regime’s insecurity.
Economic Hardship: Lavish Parades Amid Mass Unemployment
China’s youth unemployment has reached record highs, and in 2023 authorities even stopped publishing official figures to hide the reality. Millions of graduates struggle to find jobs, fueling the so-called “lying flat” generation. Meanwhile, Beijing spends billions on parades filled with missiles and jets. On one side, ordinary citizens send out résumés in vain; on the other, the regime pours hundreds of billions into pageantry. The contrast is absurd.
Soaring Costs: Ordinary People Tighten Belts While the Regime Wastes Billions
Domestic demand is stagnant, costs of living are rising, and ordinary citizens are crushed under housing, medical, and food expenses. Since 2023, waves of “unfinished property projects” have left tens of thousands of families saddled with heavy mortgages but no homes to live in. Yet the CCP diverts massive sums into parade theatrics, polishing its “Strong Nation Dream” while ignoring the daily struggles of its people.
Public Security in Decline: Violence and Scams on the Rise
The same years that parades dazzled TV screens, China was rocked by alarming social incidents. In 2023, the “Tangshan attack” shocked the nation when four women were brutally beaten in public, sparking outrage over safety and distrust in law enforcement. At the same time, telecom fraud, cross-border trafficking, and organized crime surged, leaving citizens fearful for their safety. No military parade can disguise these harsh realities.
Distraction by Design: Steel Formations as a Political Fig Leaf
The core function of CCP parades is not commemoration or defense, but distraction. When public opinion begins to focus on unemployment, collapsing housing markets, or violent crimes, the regime floods media with images of marching soldiers and roaring missiles. The steel formations become a national illusion, meant to temporarily suppress people’s anger and anxiety.
Conclusion: Parades Cannot Silence the People’s Cries
Parades are the CCP’s political theater, but they cannot resolve unemployment, healthcare, or public safety. While young people remain jobless, families drown in mortgages, and violence and fraud spread unchecked, the people’s true demand is clear: they want livelihoods, not fireworks; safety, not illusions. History will remember these parades as hollow shows that failed to cover up the suffering of the people.