Comrade Mao Zedong’s Thought on Independence and Self-Reliance and Its Contemporary Value

Independence and self-reliance is the living soul of Mao Zedong Thought, and moreover it has long been a magic weapon for the successful advancement of China’s revolution and construction. The core essence of independence and self-reliance is to insist on placing the development of the country and the nation on the basis of its own strength, and to insist that China’s affairs must be decided and handled by the Chinese people themselves.

独立自主是毛泽东思想的活的灵魂，更是长期以来中国革命和建设事业成功推进的法宝。独立自主的核心要义，就是坚持把国家和民族发展放在自己力量的基点上，坚持中国的事情必须由中国人民自己作主张、自己来处理。

I

一

Independence and self-reliance has both a Marxist basis and a source in fine traditional Chinese culture. Marx and Engels believed that the proletarian revolution is an international cause, requiring the united efforts of all countries and the promotion of the spirit of internationalism; the proletariat of each country “is included in the very concept of internationalism with its autonomy and independence in internal affairs.” [1]1 This is a paraphrase of a passage from Marx and Engels on the relationship between internationalism and national independence. After the victory of the October Revolution, in the process of guiding the revolutionary movements of colonies and semi-colonies, Lenin pointed out that the tasks to be accomplished by Eastern communists were special and arduous, and the “solutions to these tasks cannot be found in any communist book,” [2]2 This is a paraphrase of Lenin’s remarks on the need for Eastern communists to find their own solutions. and could only be resolved based on their own experience. Chinese civilization has a long and continuous history; in its long historical practice, the Chinese nation has formed a spirit of self-reliance, self-confidence, self-respect, and self-strengthening, as expressed in the saying “As Heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive for self-improvement.” [3]3 A classical Chinese idiom from the *I Ching* (Book of Changes), often used to encourage self-discipline and ceaseless effort. This is the traditional cultural “root” of national independence and self-reliance.

独立自主既有马克思主义依据，又有中华优秀传统文化渊源。马克思、恩格斯认为，无产阶级革命是国际性的事业，需要各国联合起来，发扬国际主义精神，各国无产阶级“在内部事务上的自主和独立也就包括在国际主义这一概念本身之中”。列宁在十月革命胜利后指导殖民地半殖民地革命运动的过程中指出，东方共产主义者要完成的任务特殊而艰巨，这些任务的“解决方法无论在哪一部共产主义书本里都是找不到的”，只能根据自己的经验来解决。中华文明源远流长，中华民族在长期的历史实践中形成了“天行健，君子以自强不息”等自立自信自尊自强精神，是独立自主的民族传统文化“根脉”。

Nevertheless, for the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their main representative, independence and self-reliance was by no means something that came naturally or followed as a matter of course; rather, it underwent a difficult process of understanding, exploration, deepening, and unwavering persistence. Comrade Mao Zedong once said that true understanding of independence and self-reliance began with the Zunyi Conference. [4]4 The Zunyi Conference (January 1935) was a pivotal meeting of the CPC during the Long March, where Mao Zedong’s leadership was established and the Party began to correct the influence of the Comintern’s dogmatic line. As is well known, the Communist Party of China was a product of modern Chinese historical development, the result of the combination of Marxism with the Chinese workers’ movement, and was also established with the help of the Communist International, whose assistance in many cases and on many issues took the form of direct decision-making and issuing orders. On the one hand, the Communist International made unique contributions to promoting the growth and progress of the CPC; on the other hand, it bore inescapable responsibility for the failure of the Great Revolution [5]5 The Great Revolution (1924-1927) refers to the first Kuomintang-CPC united front and the Northern Expedition; its failure was partly attributed to Comintern directives. and the “Left” dogmatism and adventurism during the Agrarian Revolutionary War period. [6]6 The Agrarian Revolutionary War (1927-1937) was the period of the CPC’s rural-based struggle, including the establishment of Soviet areas, marked by “Left” errors influenced by the Comintern.

虽然如此，对于以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人而言，独立自主绝非自然而然、水到渠成那样简单，而是经历了一个艰辛的认识、探索、深化和坚定不移、持之以恒的过程。毛泽东同志讲过，真正懂得独立自主是从遵义会议开始的。众所周知，中国共产党是中国近现代历史发展的产物，是马克思主义与中国工人运动相结合的结果，同时也是在共产国际帮助下成立的，这种帮助在很多时候很多问题上表现为直接作决定、下命令。一方面，共产国际在促进中国共产党成长和进步方面作出了特有贡献；另一方面，又对大革命的失败、土地革命战争时期的“左”倾教条主义和冒险主义负有不可推卸的责任。

Comrade Mao Zedong began the revolutionary practice of independence and self-reliance relatively early, and developed an awareness of independence and self-reliance relatively early. His understanding of the peasantry’s position as the main force in the Chinese revolution, his high praise for the peasant movement in Hunan and other places, and especially his leading of the Autumn Harvest Uprising troops into the Jinggang Mountains [7]7 The Jinggang Mountains were the first rural revolutionary base area established by Mao Zedong after the Autumn Harvest Uprising in 1927. are clear evidence. Facing the painful lessons of the failure of the Great Revolution, and facing the erroneous tendency to dogmatize Marxism and sanctify the resolutions of the Communist International and the experience of the Soviet Union, Comrade Mao Zedong, in his article “Oppose Book Worship,” [8]8 “Oppose Book Worship” (1930) is a famous essay by Mao Zedong criticizing dogmatism and advocating for investigation and practice. sharply proposed that “Marxist ‘books’ must be studied, but they must be combined with China’s actual conditions,” and that “the victory of the Chinese revolution depends on Chinese comrades understanding China’s conditions.” [9]9 These are direct quotes from Mao’s “Oppose Book Worship.”

毛泽东同志比较早地开始了独立自主的革命实践，比较早地产生了独立自主的意识。他对农民在中国革命中主力军地位的认识，对湖南等地农民运动的高度赞扬，尤其是带领秋收起义部队挺进井冈山就是明证。面对大革命失败的惨痛教训，面对把马克思主义教条化、把共产国际决议和苏联经验神圣化的错误倾向，毛泽东同志在《反对本本主义》一文中鲜明地提出，“马克思主义的‘本本’是要学习的，但是必须同我国的实际情况相结合”，“中国革命斗争的胜利要靠中国同志了解中国情况”。

Beginning with the Zunyi Conference, the CPC’s independence and self-reliance became increasingly evident and firm. In handling the complex relations with various political forces, especially the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, within the Anti-Japanese National United Front; in handling relations with the Communist International and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union; and in handling relations with major powers such as the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their main representative, accumulated rich experience in independence and self-reliance. After the founding of New China, while pursuing the foreign policy of “leaning to one side” [10]10 “Leaning to one side” was the foreign policy of the early PRC, aligning with the Soviet-led socialist bloc. on the basis of independence and self-reliance, standing with the socialist camp led by the Soviet Union to strengthen the international communist forces and break the imperialist blockade of New China, and while accepting Soviet aid, especially aid in new technology, the CPC never showed any ambiguity or wavering in safeguarding national sovereignty and national dignity and handling internal and external affairs independently. Comrade Mao Zedong’s words carried weight: “If political conditions are to be discussed, not even half a finger will be conceded.” [11]11 This is a famous quote from Mao Zedong, expressing firmness on sovereignty issues during negotiations with the Soviet Union.

以遵义会议为开端，中国共产党的独立自主性日趋彰显和坚定。在处理抗日民族统一战线中与各种政治力量尤其是国共两党的复杂关系中，在处理与共产国际、苏联共产党的关系中，在处理与美、英、苏等大国的关系中，以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人积累了丰富的独立自主经验。新中国成立后，奉行独立自主基础上的“一边倒”外交方针，站在以苏联为首的社会主义阵营一边，以壮大国际共产主义力量、打破帝国主义对新中国的封锁的同时，在接受苏联援助尤其是新技术援助的同时，对于维护国家主权和民族尊严、独立自主地处理内政外交事务，中国共产党不曾有过丝毫含糊、动摇，毛泽东同志的话掷地有声，“要讲政治条件，连半个指头都不行”。

II

二

Comrade Mao Zedong’s thought and spirit of independence and self-reliance were first embodied in the exploration of the path of China’s revolution and construction. “Walking our own path” can be said to be the focal point and fundamental point of Mao Zedong’s thought and practice. It was precisely by proceeding from China’s national conditions that Comrade Mao Zedong led the Party and the people to blaze a revolutionary path different from the Russian October Revolution’s “city-centered” approach, namely, “encircling the cities from the countryside and finally seizing national power.” After the founding of New China, how to blaze a path of socialist construction suited to China’s national conditions became the focus of Comrade Mao Zedong’s thinking and exploration. He proposed that now, in the period of socialist revolution and construction, we must carry out a second integration of Marxism with China’s actual conditions and find a path for how to build socialism in China. [12]12 This refers to Mao’s concept of a “second integration” of Marxism with Chinese reality, distinct from the first integration that produced the revolutionary path. When revising the political report for the Eighth National Congress of the CPC, he wrote: “It is inconceivable that the specific development process and forms of expression of the socialist system in various countries can only have a single, uniform pattern. China is an Eastern country and also a large country. Therefore, China not only has many of its own characteristics in the process of the democratic revolution, but also has many of its own characteristics in the process of socialist transformation and socialist construction; moreover, after the socialist society is built in the future, it will continue to have many of its own characteristics.” [13]13 This is a direct quote from Mao’s revisions to the political report of the Eighth National Congress of the CPC (1956). In fact, Comrade Mao Zedong’s reports or speeches such as “On the Ten Major Relationships” [14]14 “On the Ten Major Relationships” (1956) is a speech by Mao Zedong outlining key contradictions in socialist construction. and “On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People” [15]15 “On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People” (1957) is a speech by Mao Zedong distinguishing between contradictions among the people and those with enemies. were typical manifestations of this “second integration.” It was precisely through this exploration and integration that, after nearly thirty years of effort, New China established an independent and relatively complete industrial system and national economic system on the basis of a backward agricultural country, laid the foundation for the fundamental system, basic systems, and important systems of socialism, and embarked on a path of independent development, without falling into dependent development, as some newly independent colonial and semi-colonial countries did—politically declaring independence but economically unable to shake off dependence on their former suzerains.

毛泽东同志的独立自主思想和精神首先体现在中国革命和建设道路的探索上。走自己的路，可以说是毛泽东思想和实践的落脚点、根本点。正是从我国国情出发，毛泽东同志带领党和人民走出了一条不同于俄国十月革命“以城市为中心”，而是“以农村包围城市、最后夺取全国胜利”的革命道路。新中国成立后，如何走出一条符合中国国情的社会主义建设道路，则成为毛泽东同志思考和探索的重心。他提出，现在是社会主义革命和建设时期，我们要进行马克思主义与中国实际的第二次结合，找出在中国怎样建设社会主义的道路。在对党的八大政治报告进行修改的时候，他写道：“不可能设想，社会主义制度在各国的具体发展过程和表现形式，只能有一个千篇一律的格式。我国是一个东方国家，又是一个大国。因此，我国不但在民主革命过程中有自己的许多特点，在社会主义改造和社会主义建设的过程中也带有自己的许多特点，而且在将来建成社会主义社会以后还会继续存在自己的许多特点。”事实上，毛泽东同志《论十大关系》《关于正确处理人民内部矛盾的问题》等报告或讲话便是“第二次结合”的典型体现。正是在这种探索和结合中，经过近三十年的努力，新中国在一个落后的农业国的基础上建立起独立的比较完整的工业体系和国民经济体系，确立了社会主义根本制度、基本制度、重要制度的基础，走上了独立自主的发展道路，而没有像一些新独立的殖民地半殖民地国家那样，虽然政治上宣布独立了，但经济上无法摆脱对原宗主国的依赖而不得不堕入依附性发展。

Taking the nearly thirty years of achievements in independence and self-reliance after the founding of New China as a starting point, in the creative practice of reform and opening up, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics was opened up, Chinese-path modernization was pioneered, and a new form of human civilization was created. History shows that the path determines destiny. In human history, no nation or country has achieved strength and rejuvenation by relying on external forces, copying foreign models, or following in others’ footsteps. Unswervingly walking one’s own path is the foundation and prerequisite of independence and self-reliance, and a basic conclusion of the CPC’s century-long struggle. In the New Era, the Party and the people need to continuously strengthen confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture. [16]16 These are the “Four Confidences,” a key slogan in contemporary CPC discourse. Striding forward along the path we have chosen, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will surely be achieved.

以新中国成立后近三十年的独立自主成就为起点，在改革开放的创造性实践中，中国特色社会主义道路得以开辟，中国式现代化得以开创，人类文明新形态得以创造。历史表明，道路决定命运。人类历史上没有一个民族、一个国家可以通过依赖外部力量、照搬外国模式、跟在他人后面亦步亦趋实现强大和振兴。坚定不移地走自己的路，是独立自主的根本和前提，是中国共产党百年奋斗的基本结论。新时代，党和人民需要不断增强道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信。沿着自己选择的道路阔步前进，中华民族伟大复兴就一定能够实现。

III

三

Independence and self-reliance requires self-reliance and hard work. As early as the period of the democratic revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong clearly warned the entire Party: “On what basis should our policy be placed? On the basis of our own strength, which is called self-reliance and hard work.” [17]17 This is a direct quote from Mao Zedong’s “The Situation and Our Policy After the Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan” (1945). After the War of Resistance Against Japan entered the stage of stalemate, due to the blockade by the Japanese and puppet forces and the Kuomintang’s anti-communist friction, the financial and economic difficulties in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and the anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines grew increasingly severe. Comrade Mao Zedong later recalled, “We were once reduced to having almost no clothes to wear, no oil to eat, no paper, no vegetables, no shoes or socks for the soldiers, and no bedding for the staff in winter.” [18]18 This is a direct quote from Mao Zedong’s “We Must Learn to Do Economic Work” (1945). However, under the call of Comrade Mao Zedong and the CPC Central Committee to “get moving and achieve ample food and clothing,” [19]19 This is a paraphrase of the slogan “get moving and achieve ample food and clothing” (自己动手，丰衣足食) from the Yan’an period. the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and other anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines successively launched the Great Production Movement. [20]20 The Great Production Movement (1941-1945) was a large-scale campaign in CPC base areas to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Comrade Mao Zedong and other central leaders took the lead in participating in labor. The 359th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army created the miracle of transforming the barren Nanniwan into “the good Jiangnan of northern Shaanxi,” [21]21 Nanniwan was a barren area in Shaanxi turned into farmland by the 359th Brigade; “the good Jiangnan of northern Shaanxi” is a phrase praising its transformation, Jiangnan being a fertile region in southern China. composing a magnificent ode to self-reliance and hard work, developing the economy, and ensuring supply. The vigorous Great Production Movement laid the material foundation for the Party to lead the people in overcoming severe difficulties and defeating the Japanese aggressors.

独立自主就要自力更生。早在民主革命时期毛泽东同志就明确告诫全党：“我们的方针要放在什么基点上？放在自己力量的基点上，叫做自力更生。”抗日战争进入相持阶段后，由于日伪封锁和国民党反共摩擦，陕甘宁边区和敌后各抗日根据地财政经济日益困难，毛泽东同志后来回顾说，“我们曾经弄到几乎没有衣穿，没有油吃，没有纸，没有菜，战士没有鞋袜，工作人员在冬天没有被盖”。然而，在毛泽东同志和中共中央“自己动手、丰衣足食”的号召下，陕甘宁边区和其他敌后抗日根据地先后开展大生产运动，毛泽东同志等中央领导人带头参加劳动，八路军三五九旅创造了变荒山野岭的南泥湾为“陕北的好江南”的奇迹，谱写了一曲自力更生、发展经济、保障供给的壮丽凯歌。轰轰烈烈的大生产运动为党带领人民战胜严重困难、打败日本侵略者奠定了物质基础。

After the victory of the democratic revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong likewise emphasized placing economic development on the foundation of self-reliance. In the early years after the founding of New China, the Soviet Union once provided China with economic and technological assistance. After the Sino-Soviet split, the Soviet Union withdrew its experts and tore up contracts. Comrade Mao Zedong believed that this was beneficial to us, as it could spur us to independently tackle key scientific and technological problems and independently develop the economy. He declared, “We stand for self-reliance. We hope for foreign aid, but we cannot depend on it; we rely on our own efforts, on the creative power of the entire army and the entire people.” [22] It was under the inspiration of this thought that New China successfully developed the “two bombs, one satellite,” [23] achieving independent breakthroughs in the field of science and technology, and thereby driving the construction of the entire industrial system. It can be said that “taking self-reliance as the mainstay, seeking foreign aid as a supplement, discarding superstitions, independently undertaking industry, agriculture, technological revolution and cultural revolution, defeating slavish thinking, burying dogmatism, earnestly learning from the good experiences of foreign countries, and also studying the bad experiences of foreign countries as a warning” — this was the national economic construction line put forward by Comrade Mao Zedong. He encouraged creativity and innovation, admonishing people that “we cannot follow the old technological development path of other countries, crawling step by step behind others. We must break conventions, adopt advanced technology as much as possible, and within a not-too-long historical period, build our country into a socialist, modernized, powerful nation.”

民主革命胜利后，毛泽东同志同样强调要把经济发展放在自力更生的基点上。新中国成立初期，苏联曾经给予中国经济和技术援助，中苏关系破裂后，苏联撤走专家，撕毁合同，毛泽东同志认为这对我们有好处，能够激励我们独立自主地进行科技攻关，独立自主地发展经济。他申明，“我们是主张自力更生的。我们希望有外援，但是我们不能依赖它，我们依靠自己的努力，依靠全体军民的创造力”。正是在这一思想激励下，新中国成功研发“两弹一星”，实现了科技领域的自主突破，并由此带动了整个工业体系的建设。可以说，“自力更生为主，争取外援为辅，破除迷信，独立自主地干工业、干农业、干技术革命和文化革命，打倒奴隶思想，埋葬教条主义，认真学习外国的好经验，也一定研究外国的坏经验——引以为戒”，这就是毛泽东同志提出的国家经济建设路线。他鼓励创造创新，告诫人们“不能走世界各国技术发展的老路，跟在别人后面一步一步地爬行。我们必须打破常规，尽量采用先进技术，在一个不太长的历史时期内，把我国建设成为一个社会主义的现代化的强国”。

In the New Era, China has already entered the ranks of innovative countries and is striding forward toward the forefront of innovative countries. It has already become and firmly holds its position as the world’s second-largest economy. Its scientific and technological strength, economic strength, and comprehensive national power are far from what they once were. However, in some important fields and key technologies, shortcomings still exist, and we are even “choked” in some areas. History tells us that core, key technologies cannot be obtained by asking, buying, or begging. We must discard illusions, strengthen our confidence, and conduct independent research and development. Only in this way can we firmly grasp our destiny in our own hands.

新时代的中国已经进入创新型国家行列、正在大步迈向创新型国家前列，已经成为并稳居世界第二大经济体，科技实力、经济实力、综合国力早已今非昔比，但是，在一些重要领域、关键技术方面仍然存在短板甚至被“卡脖子”。历史告诉我们，关键核心技术是要不来、买不来、讨不来的，必须丢掉幻想、坚定信心、自主研发，只有如此，才能把命运牢牢掌握在自己手里。

IV

四

Independence and self-reliance do not mean closing the country to international intercourse, nor does self-reliance mean blindly excluding foreign things. Independence and self-reliance emphasize initiative and leadership in foreign cooperation, avoiding one-way dependence in cooperation and losing the initiative in development. On the premise of not harming national sovereignty and interests, actively developing foreign economic, trade, and technological cooperation is one of the necessary conditions for enhancing the capacity for independence and self-reliance, especially when the economy and technology are backward. After the founding of New China, Comrade Mao Zedong and the Party Central Committee not only actively developed economic, trade, and technological exchanges with socialist countries such as the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe but also found ways to break through blockades and conduct economic and technological exchanges with Western capitalist countries.

独立自主并非意味着闭关自守，自力更生也不是盲目排外。独立自主、自力更生强调的是对外合作中的主动性与主导权，避免在合作中出现单向依赖，丧失发展的主动权。在不损害国家主权和利益的前提下，积极开展对外经贸、技术合作是增强独立自主、自力更生能力的必要条件之一，尤其是在经济、技术落后的情况下，更为重要。新中国成立后，毛泽东同志和中共中央不仅积极发展与苏联、东欧等社会主义国家的经贸、技术往来，而且想办法打破封锁，开展与西方资本主义国家的经济、技术交往。

Independence and self-reliance are not contradictory to learning from and drawing on all advanced achievements of human civilization; rather, they are in a dialectical relationship of mutual complementarity. In his report “On the Ten Major Relationships,” [24] Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that it should be acknowledged that every nation has its strengths. “Our policy is to learn from the strong points of all nations and all countries, all that is genuinely good in politics, economics, science, technology, literature, and art. But we must learn with an analytical and critical eye, not blindly, and we must not copy everything mechanically and transplant it indiscriminately.” “We must resolutely resist and criticize all decadent systems and ideologies of the foreign bourgeoisie. However, this does not prevent us from learning the advanced science and technology of capitalist countries and the scientific aspects of their enterprise management methods.”

独立自主、自力更生与学习借鉴人类一切先进文明成果并不矛盾，而是相辅相成的辩证关系。毛泽东同志在《论十大关系》的报告中指出，应当承认，每个民族都有它的长处。“我们的方针是，一切民族、一切国家的长处都要学，政治、经济、科学、技术、文学、艺术的一切真正好的东西都要学。但是，必须有分析有批判地学，不能盲目地学，不能一切照抄，机械搬用。”“外国资产阶级的一切腐败制度和思想作风，我们要坚决抵制和批判。但是，这并不妨碍我们去学习资本主义国家的先进的科学技术和企业管理方法中合乎科学的方面。”

Building on existing thought and practice, since reform and opening up, the Communist Party of China has led the people in opening up to the outside world in an all-round way with a broad-minded attitude, actively introducing foreign capital, advanced foreign technology, and advanced management experience, achieving leapfrog development. In the New Era, we need to continue to uphold an inclusive attitude, humbly learn from the good things of others, and digest and absorb them from an independent and self-reliant standpoint, turning them into our own good things. However, we must never swallow whole without thinking or imitate others mechanically and lose our own identity. [25] Only by taking root in our own country and maintaining independence can we be most reliable and most effective.

在已有思想和实践基础上，改革开放以来，中国共产党带领人民以海纳百川的胸怀全方位对外开放，积极引进外资、国外先进技术、先进管理经验，实现跨越式发展。新时代，我们需要继续秉持兼容并蓄的态度，虚心学习他人的好东西，并在独立自主的立场上加以消化吸收，化成我们自己的好东西，但决不能囫囵吞枣、邯郸学步。只有扎根本国、独立自主，才最可靠，也最管用。

V

五

As the fundamental guiding principle for China’s revolution and construction, independence is inseparable from the spirit of struggle. Daring to struggle and daring to win are the powerful spiritual strengths that make the Party and the people invincible. History shows that all the achievements made by the Party leading the people did not fall from the sky, nor were they bestowed by others, but were obtained through continuous struggle. The Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, for the sake of the country and the people, were always fearless, unafraid of sacrifice, and indomitable, no matter how powerful the enemy or how severe the challenge. Comrade Mao Zedong once wrote these bold words: “We the Chinese nation have the spirit to fight the enemy to the last drop of our blood, the determination to recover our lost heritage through self-reliance, and the ability to stand on our own feet among the nations of the world.” “We Chinese have backbone.” He emphasized, “China must become independent, China must be liberated, China’s affairs must be decided and handled by the Chinese people themselves, and no imperialist country shall be allowed to interfere in the slightest,” and “Once the destiny of China is in the hands of the people, China will, like the sun rising in the east, illuminate the earth with its own brilliant radiance.” Comrade Mao Zedong’s revolutionary practice and spirit everywhere embodied the Chinese people’s independent national self-respect, self-confidence, and pride, and embodied the lofty integrity of unswervingly safeguarding national sovereignty and national dignity. After the founding of New China, in the face of blockades, embargoes, and war threats from imperialism and hegemonism, and in the face of the overbearing attitude of the “big brother party” and great-power chauvinism, even the stationing of troops on the border, Comrade Mao Zedong displayed the unique dauntless heroism of the Chinese nation. He demanded that the entire Party and the entire people show not the slightest trace of servility in international dealings with any big, powerful, or wealthy country, and that they would not tolerate any infringement of China’s national dignity and national interests. This tradition of daring to struggle has never been interrupted. In the historical process of reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping clearly stated, “No foreign country should expect China to be its vassal,” and “China is the country in the world that least fears isolation, blockade, or sanctions.”

独立自主作为中国革命和建设的根本指导原则，离不开斗争精神。敢于斗争、敢于胜利，是党和人民不可战胜的强大精神力量。历史表明，党带领人民取得的一切成就，不是从天上掉下来的，不是别人恩赐的，而是通过不断斗争取得的。以毛泽东同志为主要代表的中国共产党人，为了国家和人民，无论敌人如何强大、挑战如何严峻，总是毫无畏惧、不怕牺牲、百折不挠。毛泽东同志曾写下这样的豪言壮语：“我们中华民族有同自己的敌人血战到底的气概，有在自力更生的基础上光复旧物的决心，有自立于世界民族之林的能力。”“我们中国人是有骨气的。”他强调，“中国必须独立，中国必须解放，中国的事情必须由中国人民自己作主张，自己来处理，不容许任何帝国主义国家再有一丝一毫的干涉”，“中国的命运一经操在人民自己的手里，中国就将如太阳升起在东方那样，以自己的辉煌的光焰普照大地”。毛泽东同志的革命实践和精神处处体现着中国人民独立自主的民族自尊心、自信心和自豪感，体现着坚定不移维护国家主权、民族尊严的崇高气节。新中国成立后，面对帝国主义、霸权主义的封锁禁运和战争威胁，面对“老子党”、大国沙文主义的盛气凌人甚至陈兵边境，毛泽东同志更是表现出中华民族特有的大无畏英雄气概。他要求全党全国人民在国际交往中对任何大国、强国、富国都不要有一点卑躬屈节的表现，也不容忍中国的民族尊严和民族利益受到任何侵犯。这一敢于斗争的传统从未中断，在改革开放的历史进程中，邓小平同志明确表示，“任何外国不要指望中国做他们的附庸”，“世界上最不怕孤立、最不怕封锁、最不怕制裁的就是中国”。

Daring to struggle must also be accompanied by being good at struggle. Struggle is an art that requires attention to strategy and methods. In the long-term practice of struggle, Comrade Mao Zedong accumulated rich experience and demonstrated extraordinary wisdom, including the firmness of principle and flexibility of tactics, the far-sightedness of strategy and the acuteness of tactics, distinguishing between the principal contradiction and secondary contradictions, being good at grasping the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, adhering to the principle of being justified, advantageous, and restrained, and so on. In the New Era, we must inherit the Party’s fine traditions and valuable experiences, cultivate and maintain a tenacious spirit of struggle, a strong will to struggle, and superb skills in struggle. At any time and under any circumstances, China’s principle of independence cannot be discarded, and the backbone of the Chinese people cannot be bent. As long as we are good at grasping the characteristics of the times of the new great struggle, we will surely be able to overcome all foreseeable and unforeseeable risks and challenges, allowing independence to radiate new brilliance on the new journey.

敢于斗争，还要善于斗争。斗争是一门艺术，需要注重策略方法。在长期的斗争实践中，毛泽东同志积累了丰富的经验、展现出非凡的智慧，包括原则的坚定性和策略的灵活性，战略的高远性和战术的敏锐性，分清主要矛盾和次要矛盾，善于抓主要矛盾、矛盾主要方面，坚持有理有利有节原则，等等。新时代，我们要继承党的优良传统和宝贵经验，培养和保持顽强的斗争精神、坚强的斗争意志、高超的斗争本领。任何时候、任何情况下，中国的独立自主原则不能丢，中国人的脊梁不能弯。只要我们善于把握新的伟大斗争的时代特点，就一定能够战胜一切可以预见和难以预见的风险挑战，让独立自主在新征程上焕发新的光芒。

The great century-long journey of our Party proves that in our large socialist country with a huge population, at all times we must take independence and self-reliance as the fundamental basis for our own development, at all times we must adhere to the social system and development path independently chosen by the Chinese people, always prioritize national sovereignty and security, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and insist on handling China’s affairs according to China’s conditions and relying on the Chinese people’s own strength. As General Secretary Xi Jinping stated: “China has over 9.6 million square kilometers of land and

我们党百余年的伟大历程证明，在我们这个人口众多的社会主义大国，任何时候都必须把独立自主、自力更生作为自己发展的根本基点，任何时候都要坚持中国人民自己选择的社会制度和发展道路，始终把国家主权和安全放在第一位，坚决维护国家主权、安全、发展利益，坚持中国的事情按照中国的情况来办、依靠中国人民自己的力量来办。正如习近平总书记所言：“中国有960多万平方公里土地、56个民族，我们能照谁的模式办？谁又能指手画脚告诉我们该怎么办？”“不论过去、现在和将来，我们都要把国家和民族发展放在自己力量的基点上，坚持民族自尊心和自信心，坚定不移走自己的路。”

(The author is the chief expert of the National Social Science Fund major project "Research on the Themes of the Centenary History of the Communist Party of China" and a professor at Renmin University of China)

（作者系国家社科基金重大项目“中国共产党百年历程主题研究”首席专家、中国人民大学教授）

Online editor: Zhang Jian

网络编辑：张剑