CHINA held nationwide celebrations today to mark 75 years since the People’s Republic was established.

Among the events was a flag-raising ceremony in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square with a marching honour guard.

Commemorations were also held in the former British colony of Hong Kong and the ex-Portuguese territory of Macao, both of which returned to Chinese sovereignty in the late 1990s.

At a reception in Beijing on Monday night for around 3,000 Communist Party (CPC) members and foreign dignitaries, President Xi Jinping praised China’s advancement since the CPC ousted the nationalist Kuomintang government and established the People’s Republic of China.

Mr Xi said that “no difficulties can stop the Chinese people from moving forward,” but he called on the population to be “vigilant,” prepare for danger and rely on the party and its army in tough times ahead.

“The road ahead will not be smooth. There will definitely be difficulties and obstacles and we may encounter major tests such as high winds and rough seas or even stormy waves.” 

The president, who is also the CPC general secretary, added: “We will always stand on the right side of history and human progress" and “do our best to promote world peace and tranquillity and human progress.”

Mr Xi also used his speech to underline the importance of full reunification of the breakaway province of Taiwan with China.

“Taiwan is China’s sacred territory, and the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood, and blood is thicker than water,” he insisted.

“No-one can stop the wheel of history.”

On Sunday, the US government approved its biggest ever military sales package for Taiwan, worth $567 million (£423m).

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by accusing Washington of undermining peace and stability in the region by “conniving” with and “emboldening” secessionist forces and warned that its support for the Taipei government would backfire.