Historian Arnold Toynbee, in his seminal work “A Study of History,” stated unequivocally, “Historical phenomena should be compared and examined within a broader context, which is civilization.” The Long March of the Red Army, as one of the significant events of the 20th century that had an impact on the world, undoubtedly merits being interpreted within a grander context.

In June 1936, with the assistance and connections of Soong Ching-ling, American journalist Edgar Snow became the first Western journalist to conduct in-depth interviews within the Shaanxi-Ganzi Soviet Area. After four months of thorough interviews, Snow returned to Peking and first wrote numerous sensational news reports for Anglo-American newspapers. He declared unequivocally to the world: “The Communist Party of China and the revolutionary cause it leads are like a shining red star, not only illuminating the northwest of China, but also destined to shine across the entire country and the world.” It seemed that the Communist Party of China, with a history of over ten years of struggle, and the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, which had been in existence for nearly nine years, had only been discovered by the world at this time.

President Xi Jinping profoundly stated, “The powerful and stirring force unleashed by the Long March transcends time and space, and crosses ethnic boundaries. It is a great epic of humanity’s relentless pursuit of truth and light.” Over the past 90 years, numerous studies and writings about the Long March of the Red Army have emerged worldwide, and people have come from all corners of the globe to explore the path of the Long March.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March by the Red Army. Through the eyes of the world in the past, we can still hear the strong pulse and resolute footsteps of the Red Army.

From a global perspective, we see the Red Army’s unwavering belief that “as long as we follow the Party, we will achieve victory.” “Once the spirit of humanity is awakened, its power is boundless. Those who live for ideals are those whose spirit has been highly aroused.” In 1984, Edgar Snow’s longtime friend, the renowned American journalist and author Harrison Salisbury, who wore a pacemaker while retracing the Long March, wrote “The Long March: An Untold Story.” In this work, he expressed his sentiments: “After the fact of the Red Army’s decision to make a strategic shift became public, no one knew where they would go or where the end lay. Clearly, the ability to strengthen one’s commitment to and steadfastly implement the decisions made by the Party leadership was a decisive factor in determining the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the troops.”

From a global perspective, we witness the Red Army’s heroic and unyielding spirit: “Daring to face the edge of the blade, how could one harbor thoughts of safety?” As we approached the Dadu River, there was a moment of doubt about whether it truly was as turbulent and perilous as the Long March soldiers described in their memoirs.” After visiting the Dadu River in 1981, the renowned scholar Brzezinski wrote in “A Pilgrimage Along the Route of the Long March”: “Upon witnessing it firsthand, we realized that these descriptions were not exaggerated. The river is deep and unpredictable, its waters raging and untamed. Add to this the swirling eddies, which often reveal the jagged and menacing rocks hidden beneath the water’s surface. It is truly terrifying and chilling… Imagine a river in this state; it’s enough to make one shiver. For the Red Army, which was under constant attack from enemy forces and faced severe shortages of supplies, crossing this hurdle was an even greater challenge.”

From a global perspective, we witness the deep bond between the Red Army and the people, epitomized by the phrase “flames spread across the horizon, soldiers and civilians share life and death together.” Along the Long March, the Red Army fought its way through, always relying on the people and sharing hardships and struggles with them. Much of their strength came from the ordinary people they encountered along the way, and much of it stemmed from the profound camaraderie between the military and the people. As the Italian poet Guglielmi described the Long March: “They were kind-hearted, ambitious individuals with lofty ideals. Farm children who couldn’t pay taxes, apprentices, railway workers, potters, birds escaping from the brink of death – maidservants, child brides, well-educated generals, scholars with guns, poets… All these individuals came together to form a mighty Chinese tide. With simple sandals and a makeshift weapon, they embarked on their journey towards their dreams!”

From a global perspective, we observe the Red Army’s excellent discipline, which is as unyielding as iron and as simple and austere as it was in its early days. A British missionary of Swiss origin, Bousset, was once detained by the Red Army as a “spy” and subsequently joined the Sixth Red Army Corps during the Long March. Based on this experience, he wrote a memoir titled “The Hand of the Divine,” which was published a year earlier than Snow’s “Journey to the West.” Decades later, during a lecture at a British church, someone asked him: Do you believe that the Red Army, which is not considered bandits but a regular military force, is highly disciplined? He responded affirmatively: “Yes. They are extremely disciplined and well-organized. They do not allow the use of opium.” “They stipulate that one must behave appropriately in the presence of the poor, believers, and especially women. One must pay for food taken from others, and for borrowed items, one must provide a receipt. If something is broken, they will compensate accordingly.”

The spirit of the Great Long March is a spiritual treasure of the Chinese people and also a spiritual asset for people all over the world. The Long March of the Red Army has long captivated the world’s attention and has had a profound international impact. It will undoubtedly continue to be remembered, recounted, pondered, and celebrated in China and around the world. (Looking into the New Era)