HONG KONG -- As the Chinese Communist Party marks its centennial on July 1, the rulers of the country's 1.4 billion people apparently have plenty to celebrate.
For starters, it has done much better than its counterparts in former or surviving communist regimes. The CCP's ideological inspiration and one-time patron, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, imploded in 1991 at the age of 88. In terms of longevity, the CCP -- which has ruled China since in 1949 -- is also on track to surpass the CPSU, which was in power for 74 years.
%2520Baby%2520elephant%2520gets%2520a%2520breakfast%2520treat%2520at%2520the%2520Four%2520Seasons%2520Golden%2520Triangle%2520Resort.jpg?width=178&fit=cover&gravity=faces&dpr=2&quality=medium&source=nar-cms&format=auto&height=100)