Beijing cautious on republic centenary-Changvs

As China marks the centenary of the 1911 Revolution, which ended 2,000 years of imperial rule and led to the founding of modern China, the subject is being treated carefully by the authorities.

It was Sun Yat-sen who led the revolution against the Qing empire and founded Asia's first republic - the Republic of China. He remains highly respected by almost all Chinese in the mainland, Taiwan and elsewhere in the world.
The Communist Party overthrew the republic in 1949, forcing it to retreat to Taiwan. But in order to boost its own legitimacy and promote reunification, the party says it has inherited Sun's cause.
At a ceremony held in Beijing on Sunday, President Hu Jintao hailed Sun's "thoroughly modern, national and democratic revolution", saying that it "opened the door of progress for China and searched for ways for the Chinese nation's development and progress".
The way forward was eventually found "through painstaking efforts and enormous sacrifices", said Mr Hu.
"The correct path is the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the core force is the Chinese Communist Party," he emphasised.
Mr Hu also took the opportunity to call for peaceful reunification with Taiwan.
"Rejuvenating China, which was the cherished goal of Dr Sun Yat-sen and other pioneers of the Revolution of 1911, should be the common aspiration of all compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," the official Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.