China has a large population, many ethnic groups, a long history of feudal society, and uneven regional development. In modern times, it was bullied and exploited by imperialist powers, leaving the people destitute and the country fragmented.
Under such conditions, if we try to take the path of capitalism, we would only become appendages of others. Imperialist countries have advantages in energy, resources, capital, and many other areas. The United States and Western European capitalist countries not only cooperate but also exclude others—how could a backward China develop independently and catch up?
In the past, China's path of capitalism didn't work. I don’t think it will work today either.
If we are to move forward, we must unwaveringly safeguard the fundamental interests of the working people. That is the core tenet of the Communist Party. If we don't handle class contradictions and ethnic contradictions within the country well, things will intensify and could be exploited by enemies.—1958, Chairman Mao Zedong at Jinggangshan, in a conversation with Zhang Pinghua, First Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee
