Chinese Regime Gifts a Karl Marx Statue to Germany, But Locals Balk

A bronze statue of Karl Marx donated by China to mark the 200th birth anniversary of the German philosopher, is seen in his hometown Trier, Germany, on May 5, 2018. Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

The 200th birthday of Karl Marx, the founding father of communism, was celebrated with fanfare by the Chinese regime.

That day falls on May 5, but for a whole week, Chinese state media continually broadcast documentaries and talk show programs about Marx during primetime television. On May 4, just as an American trade delegation was discussing with Beijing counterparts how to repair trade relations, the Politburo Standing Committee—the seven men at the very top of the Chinese Communist Party leadership—held a commemorative event in Beijing, where leader Xi Jinping gave a nationally televised speech touting the “totally correct” path of Marxism. He urged Party members to study Marxist theories as “a way of life” and a “spiritual pursuit.”