By John Alfred Sesay
Jiang Zemin was a Chinese politician who served as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 1989 to 2002, Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1989 to 2004, and President of China from 1993 to 2003.
In Volume 3 of his Selected Works, Jiang asserted that “without stability, nothing else is possible.” He observed that, in the process of deepening reform and accelerating development, relationships between various interests often become entangled, creating new situations and challenges. He stressed that correctly handling conflicts among the people at all times is vital to fulfilling China’s historic mission. (Page 137).
Jiang Zemin’s assertion that without stability, nothing else is possible, speaks directly to the current need for unity within the APC. Just as he noted that rapid reform and development can entangle various interests and create new challenges, the APC’s internal dynamics, which are shaped by differing ambitions, priorities, and strategies can only be effectively managed through stability. Without unity, the party risks expending its energy on internal conflicts rather than on its historic mission of serving the nation and positioning itself as a credible alternative for governance.
Correctly addressing disagreements, fostering dialogue, and maintaining cohesion are therefore not optional; they are essential for the APC to achieve its goals and meet the expectations of its supporters. In short, a united front is a critical and indispensable instrument the Party cannot afford to discard in this new era. It is one of our greatest political strengths; it must not be weakened, and it must not waver. We must maintain a firm grip and a strategic understanding of its role, and purposefully give it our full support, doing all we can to preserve and strengthen it.
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