TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
News: 35 years of Tiananmen crackdown
What's in the news?
● The 1989
crackdown, in which government troops opened fire on student-led
pro-democracy protesters, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, dead,
remains a taboo subject in mainland China.
Tiananmen Square:
● Tiananmen Square is a historic city square in Beijing, China, known for significant
events in Chinese history.
● Tiananmen Square is adjacent to the Forbidden City, the historical seat of power for
Chinese royals for nearly 500 years.
Protests and Movements in 1989:
● Economic liberalization in the late 1970s led to discontent due to issues such as nepotism and
corruption within the new economic system.
● Protests grew, demanding
greater political freedoms, freedom of speech, and democratization of the
Chinese polity.
● The movement gained momentum after the death of Hu Yaobang, seen as a proponent of
democratic reforms.
● Thousands of students occupied Tiananmen Square on April 22, 1989, seeking political
freedoms.
● The protests expanded, with an estimated one
million demonstrators joining the movement in Beijing and other cities.
Crackdown and Casualties:
● The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) declared martial law in Beijing in late May
1989.
● On June 3-4,
troops and tanks were deployed to Tiananmen Square, resulting in a violent
crackdown on unarmed protesters.
● The number of casualties remains disputed, with the
Chinese government claiming 241 deaths and 7,000 injuries, while other sources
suggest a higher number, such as 10,000 deaths.
China’s Perspective on Tiananmen Square:
● The Chinese government rarely acknowledges the
events of June 4, 1989, and justifies the crackdown as necessary to quell
political turmoil.
● Mention of the Tiananmen Square crackdown is heavily censored in mainland China,
both in public gatherings and online.
● Due to censorship and limited education on the
topic, many Chinese citizens born after 1989 have little knowledge of the
events.
Commemorations in Taiwan:
● In Taiwan, the only Chinese-speaking region where
the anniversary can be openly commemorated, activists hold memorials and
discussions about the events.
● Taiwanese Vice President William Lai highlighted
the difference between Taiwan's democracy and China's authoritarianism in
acknowledging and discussing the Tiananmen Square events.