Tiananmen Square Massacre

{{silver}}
[[File:Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China 1988 (1).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Pictured: a nice, peaceful place where absolutely nothing bad ever happened.]]
{{Communism}}
{{cquote|[[Bullshit|The troops are by no means targeted at the students. Under no circumstances will [the troops] harm innocent people, let alone young students]].
<br/> ||| Official China News Agency, 1 May 1989<ref name="crackdown"></ref>}}
{{cquote|Troops shot indiscriminately into crowds of unarmed civilians, including women and children, often with automatic weapons. In one case, students attempting to parlay with troops were gunned down. Foreign journalists report seeing fleeing protesters shot in the back. <br/> ||| US Secretary of State's Morning Summary for June 5, 1989.<ref name="tiankillings"></ref>}}

The '''Tiananmen Square Massacre''' was a ruthless crackdown on a pro-[[democracy]] protest by the [[China|People's Republic of China]] in Beijing which resulted in an unknown-but-high number of civilian casualties. It is known in the People's Republic as the '''June Fourth Incident'''.

Although Chinese leader [[Deng Xiaoping]] embraced and pushed for economic [[liberalism|liberalization]] during the latter 1970s and 1980s,<ref>[https://www.economist.com/node/12758848 China's reforms: The second Long March] ''The Economist'' DEC.11.08</ref> the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) still resisted calls for political reform. In this atmosphere of rapid change, a popular youth and student movement across the nation developed to call for, among other things, democratization, [[freedom of speech]], and freedom of press.<ref name="stuprot">[https://web.archive.org/web/20040706113745/http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20010101faessay4257-p0/andrew-j-nathan/the-tiananmen-papers.html The Tiananmen Papers] Nathan, Andrew J. ''Foreign Affairs.'' January/February 2001.</ref> As the protests grew in popularity, the Chinese leadership became increasingly impatient with what they perceived to be a political threat. Matters came to a head when [[communist]] authorities declared [[martial law]] on May 20<sup>th</sup>, 1989 and later, on June 3<sup>rd</sup>, dispatched an estimated 300,000 soldiers to Tiananmen<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/tankman/] Thomas, Antony (2006). The Tank Man (Video). PBS.</ref> with orders to forcefully remove the protesters. This action involved the use of automatic weapons on the demonstrators, which killed at least several hundred people<ref>[http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/francis-moriarty-decades-later-death-tollat-tiananmen-squareis-again-in-dispute,527991 Decades later, death toll at Tiananmen Square is again in dispute] Moriarty, Francis. ''The Berkshire Eagle.'' DEC.27.17</ref> and possibly as many as ''10,000.''<ref>[https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/12/21/declassified-chinese-official-said-least-10000-civilians-died-1989-tiananmen-massacre-documents-show/ Declassified: Chinese official said at least 10,000 civilians died in 1989 Tiananmen massacre, documents show] Cheng, Kris. ''Hong Kong Free Press'' 21.DEC.17</ref>

This event was followed by a period of civil unrest, crackdowns, foreign condemnations, and purges. It remains a black (red?) mark on the Chinese Communist Party's history and is thus one of the most heavily [[censor]]ed topics in China. Discussion of the protests or the massacre is forbidden, and much of China's youth seems to be blissfully unaware that anything even happened<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-tiananmen-advertisement/young-clerk-let-tiananmen-ad-slip-past-censors-paper-idUSHKG14616220070606 Young clerk let Tiananmen ad slip past censors: paper] ''Reuters'' JUN.06.07</ref> — showing how effectively China had created a [[memory hole]] for the massacre. The official stance of the Chinese [[government]] is that [[Euphemism|use of force]] was necessary to control a [[bullshit|"political disturbance"]]. 

China did not release its final imprisoned Tiananmen protester from [[solitary confinement]] until late 2016.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/27-years-later-china-to-release-the-final-prisoner-from-tiananmen-square-protests/2016/10/14/5bd54aae-91ed-11e6-81c3-fb2fde4e7164_story.html?utm_term=.5193c5552c2e 27 years later, China to release the final prisoner from Tiananmen Square protests] Denyer, Simon. ''Washington Post''. October 14, 2016</ref>

==Background and escalation==
[[File:Hu Yaobang 1953.jpg|thumb|right|165px|The man Hu wouldn't be king.]]
===Death of Hu Yaobang===
The initial student protests in Tiananmen began in response to the death of the hugely popular Chinese liberal politician {{wpl|Hu Yaobang||.}} Hu was a supporter of both Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms, as well as a greater push for increased political [[freedom]].<ref name="yaobang">[https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/04/chinas-forgotten-liberal-hero/360722/ China's Forgotten Liberal Hero] ''The Atlantic''</ref> In an attempt to address youth unrest in 1986, Yaobang proposed legislation which would have introduced a certain extent of press freedom.<ref>[http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1482513/son-reformer-hu-yaobang-rues-lost-chance-change-25-years-after-his-death?utm_source=edm&utm_medium=edm&utm_content=20140415&utm_campaign=scmp_today Son of reformer Hu Yaobang rues lost chance for change, 25 years after his father’s death] Yu, Verna. ''South China Morning Post'' 14.APR.14</ref> In retaliation for this disloyalty, China's communist "[[conservatives]]" forced him to resign from the Party and issue a self-criticism; he died two years later.<ref name="yaobang"></ref> These circumstances surrounding his death turned him into a [[martyr]] for the cause of Chinese democracy; he was a man who fought for freedom and was crushed by the [[state]].

Within days of his [[death]], Chinese students turned out in Tiananmen to mourn him. This became a major headache for the Party, as they believed a protest celebrating the life of someone politically impure could easily spiral into [[revolution|something dangerous]]. Indeed, although the protests began in mourning, they developed into a larger call for liberalization following Hu's ideas.<ref>[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/l/liang-tiananmen.html?mcubz=2 The Tiananmen Papers] Liang, Zhang. ''The New York Times''</ref>

===Protests for democracy===
[[File:Tiananmen protests.png|thumb|right|375px|Nothing to see here. Move along.]]
Initially, the intent of the protests was not to challenge the regime. The students sought to portray themselves as disappointed but loyal supporters of the Party's leadership, and the Party accordingly took a conciliatory attitude towards the demonstrators.<ref name="stuprot"></ref> Internally, however, the Party was divided over how harsh their response to the unrest should be. However, the beginning of hunger strikes among thousands of the protesters caused the movement to gain momentum across the nation.<ref>Chai Ling. A Heart for Freedom (Tyndale Momentum, 2011), 134–135.</ref> On May 4<sup>th</sup>, students read a list of demands calling on the government to introduce constitutionally protected freedoms, fight corruption, adopt a version of Hu's press freedom law, and allow the publication of private newspapers.<ref name="stuprot"></ref> Despite what [[tankies]] and [[conservatism|U.S conservatives]] say however, the protesters were not limited to liberal students, but also frustrated workers such as {{wpl|Beijing Workers' Autonomous Federation}} angry at the growing amount of political corruption and social inequality caused by Deng's reforms, and wanting a more egalitarian form of socialism. {{wpl|The Internationale||,}} a popular [[socialist]] ''and'' communist anthem, became a rallying cry of the protesters.<ref>[https://newleftreview.org/issues/I177/articles/yuan-lu-beijing-diary Beijing Dairy]. Yuan Lu. New Left Review, Sept/Oct 1989</ref>

{{wpl|Zhao Ziyang||,}} a high-ranking civil servant directly below Deng, was the main proponent for peacefully negotiating with the protesters. However, during Zhao's visit to [[North Korea]], Party hardliners met with Deng Xiaoping to convince him that the protests were an unacceptable threat.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/14/AR2009051400942.html?sid=ST2009051401023 In Posthumous Memoir, China's Zhao Ziyang Details Tiananmen Debate, Faults Party] Pomfret, John. ''Washington Post''. MAY.15.09</ref> This would be a major motivation for Deng's declaration of martial law later in May. Now very worried, Deng ordered Chinese state media to publish a tract denouncing the student protests as a series of "riots" by a "small minority", language which was meant to evoke bad memories of [[Mao]]'s {{wpl|Cultural Revolution||.}}<ref name="tianevents">[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-tiananmen-square-massacre-195216 The Tiananmen Square Massacre, 1989] ''ThoughtCo''</ref> This, however, had the opposite of the intended effect. The students were angrier and more determined than ever before, and the government had locked itself into a confrontational stance towards the movement.

By mid-May, the Party was on its last nerve. This was due to the approaching deadline of [[Gorbachev|Gorby's]] high-profile visit to Beijing, which would have seen him visit Tiananmen Square for his welcoming ceremony and potentially personally witness the embarrassing public uprising.<ref>[https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/15/wsj-archives-25-years-ago-mikhail-gorbachev-arrives-in-beijing/ WSJ Archives: 25 Years Ago, Mikhail Gorbachev Arrives in Beijing] ''Wall Street Journal''</ref> Attempts to negotiate with the protesters in time for the [[Soviet]] summit failed, and Gorbachev's welcoming ceremony had to be downsized and hastily relocated to the airport.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/15/world/gorbachev-visits-beijing-for-start-of-summit-talks.html Gorbachev Visits Beijing for Start of Summit Talks] ''New York Times'' 1989.</ref> Ultimately, in the eyes of the foreign [[Journalism|press]], the domestic problems facing China managed to largely overshadow the symbolically important visit from the Soviet premier. As you might imagine, this pissed Deng off something fierce.  

Despite negotiating an end to the hunger strikes on May 19<sup>th</sup>, the Party declared martial law in Beijing.<ref name="crackdown">[https://www.amnesty.org.uk/china-1989-tiananmen-square-protests-demonstration-massacre 1989 Tiananmen Square protests] ''Amnesty International''</ref> Protesters, however, remained in large numbers.

During this time, squabbles between the protesters themselves also began to show. Some scholars argued that the sidelining of moderates by hardliners in both the government and protest camps made the confrontation tragically inevitable.<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/info/2169643 ''The Gate of Heavenly Peace,''] ''The American Historical Review'', Vol. 101, No. 4, Oct. 1996</ref> One of the protest leaders, {{wpl|Chai Ling||,}} was taped in a {{wpl|The Gate of Heavenly Peace (film)|controversial interview}} where she lamented that fellow protesters were being too conciliatory with the government in wanting to eventually end the protests, thus "unworthy" of her sacrifice, and hoped that students can provoke the government into violence so the Chinese can "open their eyes", but [[hypocrisy|declined to remain in the Square herself]] for fear of her life. Chai fled to the [[USA]] after the massacre, and later sued the creators of the documentary ''The Gate of Heavenly Peace'' for using her taped statement, accusing them of being "aligned with [[Satan]]" and being sympathetic to the CCP, despite the documentary itself being banned there.<ref>[http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/05/the-american-dream-the-lawsuit.html The American Dream: The Lawsuit], Evan Osnos, ''The New Yorker'', May 7, 2009</ref> Chai's defamation lawsuit drew her wide condemnation from fellow dissidents and she ultimately lost.

==The Massacre==
[[File:Tiananmen massacre aftermath.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|Crushed for communism.]]
{{cquote|When the students poured into Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength.|||[[Donald Trump]], noted admirer of [[authoritarianism]], 1990.<ref>[https://archive.is/wGxz3#selection-2331.185-2331.222 Trump's praise for China over Tiananmen Square years ago was a preview of his support for military crackdowns on the George Floyd protests]. John Haltiwanger. ''Business Insider.'' 2 Jun 2020.</ref>}}
===June 3<sup>rd</sup> through 5<sup>th</sup>, 1989===

Before the morning of June 3<sup>rd</sup>, the People's Liberation Army moved divisions from distant provinces of China to Tiananmen Square. Local PLA soldiers were considered too unreliable in the eyes of the CCP to [[Mass shooting|do what needed to be done]], as many of them showed sympathy with the protesters.<ref name="tianevents"></ref><ref>[https://thediplomat.com/2014/06/tiananmen-deng-xiaoping-clearly-wanted-to-make-a-statement/ Tiananmen: ‘Deng Xiaoping Clearly Wanted to Make a Statement’] ''The Diplomat''</ref> Overnight on June 3<sup>rd</sup> and in the very early hours of June 4<sup>th</sup>, along with [[Secret police|state security police]] ({{wpl|Ministry of State Security (China)|}}), the People's Liberation Army stormed Tiananmen Square to liberate the protesters from their own lives. The army broke through with armored personnel carriers and tanks, and opened fire on the unarmed protesters.<ref name="tiantimeline">[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-27404764 Timeline: Tiananmen protests] ''BBC''</ref> The troops had armed themselves with AK-47s, and they used copper-clad bullets designed to rupture inside the body to cause maximum trauma to the victims.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tankman/interviews/brook.html Timothy Brook Interview] ''PBS''</ref> While the military quickly overran most of the civilians, some groups of individuals held and managed to attack the soldiers with Molotov cocktails and set vehicles alight.<ref>[http://time.com/2822290/tiananmen-square-massacre-facts-time/ 6 Things You Should Know About the Tiananmen Square Massacre] ''TIME''</ref> At this point, the government began radio broadcasts urging citizens to stay off the streets and away from Tiananmen.<ref>[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc13.pdf Secretary of State's Morning Summary for June 4, 1989]</ref>

The next day, on the 4<sup>th</sup>, crowds of angry and curious people again gathered in the Square to see just what exactly had happened overnight, and the military opened fire once again.<ref name="tiantimeline"></ref> Much of the violence took place in surrounding neighborhoods rather than the Tiananmen Square itself.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8555142/Wikileaks-no-bloodshed-inside-Tiananmen-Square-cables-claim.html Wikileaks: no bloodshed inside Tiananmen Square, cables claim] Malcolm Moore. June 4, 2011. The Telegraph</ref> By June 4<sup>th</sup>, the military had complete control over the area. An eyewitness reported to the US Embassy that she had seen widespread vandalism and violence from the soldiers, including smashing windows and running people over with tanks.<ref>[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc14.pdf Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 32: The Morning of June 4 (June 4, 1989)]</ref> While individual details of the killings are disputed due the continued Chinese secrecy, it is generally accepted by scholars that several hundred, up to a thousand, protesters and civilians were killed by the military.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-03/bob-hawke-tiananman-classified-cable/100184916 Previously classified diplomatic cable reveals what PM Bob Hawke thought he knew about the Tiananmen massacre] Matt Bevan and Scott Mitchell. June 3 2021 ABC Australia.</ref>

[[File:Tiantankman.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Tank Man, Tank Man, does whatever a tank—actually, that doesn't make any sense, does it?]]

By June 5<sup>th</sup>, the government had suppressed all open resistance in Beijing. However, this was also the day the Massacre would be immortalized in the world's memory, as an anonymous individual now known as "Tank Man" managed to temporarily halt a line of armored vehicles, returning to their barracks, by standing before them. Images of this moment were captured and smuggled out of the country.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-china-tiananmen-square-tank-man-20140603-story.html Tiananmen Square mystery: Who was 'Tank Man'?] ''LA Times''</ref>

The man chatted with the tank driver before being pulled away by onlookers, and his subsequent fate remains unknown.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2019/05/world/tiananmen-square-tank-man-cnnphotos/ The story behind the iconic ‘Tank Man’ photo] story by Kyle Almond, photographs by Jeff Widener (2019) ''CNN''.</ref>

===Crackdowns in other cities===
While Beijing was the deadliest and most famous confrontation between the military and members of the protest movement, it was far from the only one. At least 20 other cities in China hosted protests, and as news broke from Beijing, violence broke out in many instances.<ref name="chengdu">[http://time.com/3908456/tiananmen-massacre-china-chengdu-june-4-1989/ June 4, 1989 Is Not Just the Date of the Tiananmen Massacre but of Many Other Bloody Crackdowns Across China] ''TIME''</ref> In Chengdu, particularly, enraged protesters turned out carrying banners that read "We are not afraid of death."<ref name="chengdu"></ref> Riots broke out over the following days, and multiple public buildings were destroyed.<ref name="chengdu"></ref>

Just as in Beijing, the PLA's troops took extensive measures to make the suppression of the people of Chengdu as harsh as possible, likely an attempt to disincentivize further unrest. This can be seen from the eyewitness account of Karl Hutterer, then-professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan:<ref name="chengdu"></ref>
{{quotebox|"The clear object of the intervention was not simply to control the demonstrators: even after having fallen to the ground, victims continued to be beaten and were stomped on by troops; hospitals were ordered not to accept wounded students (at least in one hospital some employees were arrested for defying the order), and on the second night of the attack the police prevented ambulances from functioning."}}

==Immediate aftermath==
===Occupation of Beijing===
[[File:Beijing occupation.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|Look at these tanks! So affordable! Perfect for squishing protesters! Buy one for all of your murderous dictator needs today!]]

The massacre was followed by a period of repression where thousands were arrested, harassed, and executed.<ref>[http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat2/sub7/item1084.html Aftermath, Impact And Historical Research Of Tiananmen Square]</ref> Workers and urban citizens continued to protest after June 4<sup>th</sup> and paid the price for it. As of June 5<sup>th</sup>, the PLA was still firing indiscriminately on civilians in the area, but many citizens were also attempting to set APCs alight with Molotov cocktails and use them to block the streets.<ref name="tiankillings">[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc17.pdf Secretary of State's Morning Summary for June 5, 1989]</ref> Large troop movements in the Beijing area were still detected as of the 6<sup>th</sup>, and troops were seen launching unprovoked attacks against passing civilians.<ref>[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc20.pdf Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 37: June 7, 0500 Hours Local (June 6, 1989)]</ref> The occupation of Beijing was hideously unorganized, as inter-factional battles between different PLA units were not unheard of, and military units had to plan as if expecting an attack from their own comrades.<ref>[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc18.pdf Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 35: June 6, 0500 Hours (June 5, 1989)]</ref><ref>[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc19.pdf Secretary of State's Morning Summary for June 6, 1989]</ref> 

The US State Department reported on June 9<sup>th</sup> that an "uneasy calm" had returned to the city while police stormed local university campuses to arrest students and tear down anti-government posters.<ref name="uscable1">[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc23.pdf Secretary of State's Morning Summary for June 9, 1989]</ref> In the same document, they reported that a large number of tanks and troops remained in the city to keep order and that large numbers of people seemed to be ominously missing. The government also began radio broadcasts encouraging citizens to anonymously report suspected "rioters"; anyone involved in the protests who turned themselves in were also promised more "lenient treatment".<ref name="uscable1"></ref> 

As the day-to-day crisis atmosphere faded, Party officials and foreign diplomats began to assess the impact the Tiananmen incident would have on future political concerns.

===Party squabbles===
[[File:Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter at the arrival ceremony for the Vice Premier of China. - NARA - 183157-restored(cropped).jpg|thumb|right|150px|Pictured: A harmless and lovable old Chinese man.]]

On the 9<sup>th</sup>, Deng Xiaoping made his first public appearance since early May and gave a speech applauding the efforts of the PLA and [[victim blaming|characterizing]] the protests as "counter-revolutionary".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/30/world/deng-s-june-9-speech-we-faced-a-rebellious-clique-and-dregs-of-society.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm Deng's June 9 Speech: 'We Faced a Rebellious Clique' and 'Dregs of Society'] ''New York Times'' Archives 1989.</ref> The State Department later noted that Deng's appearance both signaled a number of internal purges within the Party as well as his endorsement of martial law in Beijing and the harsh measures that it entailed.<ref>[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc25.pdf Secretary of State's Morning Summary for June 10, 1989]</ref> In the following days, many high-ranking Party officials began making frequent public appearances alongside Deng in a seeming attempt to demonstrate unity within the Party and support for Deng's political position.<ref>[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc28.pdf Secretary of State's Morning Summary for June 14, 1989]</ref> It was also noted that officials were making a point to show that China was returning to normal, despite the ongoing mass arrests.

On June 10<sup>th</sup> the Department of State compiled an intelligence brief that essentially gave up on any prospects for a liberalized China in the near future.<ref name="uscable2">[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc24.pdf Department of State Intelligence Brief, "Current Situation in China: Background and Prospects" (Ca. June 10, 1989)]</ref> They noted that the Tiananmen incident happened against the backdrop of a succession crisis over which Party official would succeed Deng Xiaoping as the leader of the China.<ref name="uscable2"></ref> Zhao Ziyi, who opposed the violent crackdown, was of a generation of younger "reformers" in opposition to the older "conservatives", and the aftermath of the Tiananmen Massacre gave the Party the perfect opportunity to discredit and purge him, effectively killing any hope for liberal reform.<ref name="uscable2"></ref> With Zhao's downfall came the destruction of the Party's entire "reform" wing.

===Foreign response===
China drew widespread international condemnation as a result of its actions. This was a major setback for Deng Xiaoping, who had gone to great lengths to portray China as an attractive location for business activities and foreign investments. The entire country saw an immediate negative impact on tourism, foreign direct investment, and foreign lending.<ref>[http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=73 The Impact of Tiananmen on China's Foreign Policy] Harding, Harry. "The National Bureau of Asian Research"</ref>

====United States====
[[File:Congresswoman Pelosi remembering the Tiananmen Square Massacre (7677794630).jpg|thumb|right|275px|[[Nancy Pelosi]] remarks on Tiananmen Massacre remembrance, 2012.]]
Although the [[United States]] quickly condemned the massacre, the two nations initially took a cautious stance towards each other. This can be seen in the interactions between the governments concerning {{wpl|Fang Lizhi||,}} a Chinese dissident who sought refuge in the US Embassy during the massacre.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/dissident-drama-recalls-story-of-fang-lizhi/2012/04/28/gIQA3WSeoT_story.html Dissident drama recalls story of Fang Lizhi] Higgins, Andrew. ''Washington Post.'' APR.28.12</ref> The Chinese escalated the issue by publishing an article in its state media condemning the US's protection of Fang, but notably refrained from making demands or attacking any American by name.<ref name="lizhi">[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc29.pdf Secretary of State's Morning Summary for June 21, 1989, China]</ref>

Later that month, however, the US [[House of Representatives]] and President [[George H. W. Bush]] authorized a package of economic sanctions and an arms ban against China.<ref name="chinasanc">[https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/house-sanctions-post-tiananmen-china-june-29-1989-057928 House Sanctions Post-Tiananmen China, June 29, 1989] Glass, Andrew. ''Politico'' 6.28.11</ref> These punitive measures included the suspension of any arms sales or other US exports to China, the suspension of exchanges between US and Chinese military leadership, the suspension of exchanges with officials at or above the rank of Assistant Secretary and the postponement of any further aid or loan assistance from international financial institutions. America got over it pretty quickly, though, and most sanctions were subsequently weakened.<ref name="chinasanc"></ref> Even after the military sanctions, US diplomatic personnel noted that China's response seemed "measured" and non-confrontational, and that Chinese officials were stressing that both nations should take a "long-term" view of their international relationship.<ref>[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc33.pdf Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01: SITREP No. 65, June 27, 1700 Local (June 27, 1989)]</ref> Moreover, on June 30, 1989, Bush's national security advisor Brent Scowcroft secretly traveled to Beijing, and told Deng Xiaoping that "President Bush recognizes the value of the PRC-US relationship to the vital interests of both countries" and that the U.S. viewed the Tiananmen Square massacre as an "internal affair".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Handbook of US-China relations|others=Tan, Andrew T. H. (Andrew Tian Huat)|isbn=9781784715724|location=Cheltenham, UK|last1 = Tan|first1 = Andrew T. H.|year = 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Tiananmen Square, 1989: The Declassified History | publisher = National Security Archive | date=29 June 1989| url = http://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/docs/doc34.pdf | accessdate = 2015-11-29}}</ref> Trade relations between the two nations were fully normalized, with the exception of the arms embargo, just eleven years later.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/106/hr4444/text Text of H.R. 4444 (106<sup>th</sup>): China Trade bill]</ref> However, the State Department continues to issue a yearly condemnation of the attack and continues to call on China to issue a full accounting of the dead and disappeared, although whether US politicians are genuinely concerned about [[human rights]] in China or just using the issue for political leverage is anyone's guess.{{efn|In 2020 for instance, [[Republican Party|GOP]] politicians were [https://twitter.com/HouseGOP/status/1268603674822979585 roasted on Twitter] for condemning China's handling of the Tiananmen Square protests while simultaneously calling for military suppression of [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190111081650/https://www.state.gov/secretary/20172018tillerson/remarks/2017/06/271555.htm 28<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of Tiananmen Square] by Rex W. Tillerson (June 4, 2017) ''United States Department of State'' (archived from January 11, 2019).</ref> On the other hand, some American [[Maoist]]s continue to cover for what China did.<ref>[http://www.fightbacknews.org/2015/6/4/us-state-department-still-whining-about-tiananmen-square-turmoil U.S. State Department still whining about Tiananmen Square turmoil] (June 4, 2015) ''Fight Back! News''.</ref>

June 4<sup>th</sup> also had a significant impact on American public opinion of China. The number of Americans expressing a favorable view of China plummeted from 72% to 34% in just two months.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/03/how-americas-opinion-of-china-has-changed-since-tiananmen/ How America’s opinion of China has changed since Tiananmen] Wike, Richard. ''Pew Research Center''</ref>

Meanwhile, a middle-aged [[autocrat]] named [[Donald Trump]], in a 1990 interview, praised the Chinese government's handling of the protest as "showing you the power of strength", and disparaged Gorbachev as "weak" and "not having a firm hand".<ref>[https://www.playboy.com/read/playboy-interview-donald-trump-1990 The Playboy Interview with Donald Trump] Playboy. March 1, 1990</ref> Unsurprisingly, during the 2020 {{wpl|George Floyd_protests}} Trump similarly attacked state governors as being "weak" and "not dominating" the protesters, and repeatedly called for the deployment of the military, including "when the looting starts, the shooting starts".<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com.au/trump-praised-china-tiananmen-foreshadowing-response-to-george-floyd-protests-2020-6 Trump's praise for China over Tiananmen Square years ago was a preview of his support for military crackdowns on the George Floyd protests] John Haltiwanger. Business Insider, June 2, 2020</ref>

====Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc====
[[File:Wroclaw-pomnik Tien-An-Men.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Polish memorial for Tiananmen. This is a recreation, as the original was destroyed by communist authorities. 
[[Irony meter|Who could have guessed that would happen?]]
]]
{{main|1=Soviet Union|3=Eastern Bloc}}
Gorbachev was reportedly stunned at the scale of the protests during his visit, and officials at the Soviet Foreign Ministry openly wondered if their nation was normalizing relations with "political dead men".<ref name="sovreaction">[http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/06/04/i-do-not-want-red-square-to-look-like-tiananmen-square/ ‘I Do Not Want Red Square to Look Like Tiananmen Square’] Radchenko, Sergey. ''Foreign Policy.'' JUN.04.14</ref> In the context of communism's slow collapse, Gorbachev seemed dismissive towards the massacre, viewing it as a necessary measure for the CCP's survival.<ref name="sovreaction"></ref> Publicly, however (and at least somewhat internally), the Kremlin was unhappy with the brutality displayed by the Chinese.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/10/world/turmoil-in-china-kremlin-dismayed-aide-says.html TURMOIL IN CHINA; Kremlin Dismayed, Aide Says] ''New York Times''</ref> The Soviet response merely expressed hope for continued reform and '[[common sense]]'.<ref name="reslist">[https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu//NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/documents/36-04.htm "China: Aftermath of the Crisis" State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, (27 July 1989)]</ref>  

Despite Gorbachev's lack of concern over the massacre, the event did highlight the fundamental split between his leadership and Deng's: Gorbachev wanted to democratize socialism, and China didn't.<ref>[https://themoscowtimes.com/articles/memory-of-tiananmen-massacre-will-influence-russias-future-35981 Memory of Tiananmen Massacre Will Influence Russia's Future] ''The Moscow Times'' May 29 2014</ref> During the coup attempt against Gorby in 1991, Chinese leaders were indifferent if not overjoyed, as they believed Gorbachev's reformism was undermining socialism globally.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/20/world/the-soviet-crisis-china-no-sign-of-glee-despite-animosity.html The Soviet Crisis: China; No Sign of Glee Despite Animosity] by Nicholas D. Kristof (Aug. 20, 1991) ''New York Times''.</ref> In fact, it is quite possible that Chinese leaders were aware of the developing Soviet [[coup]] and intentionally did nothing.<ref>[http://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/119979 Report By S. Goncharov For The Russian Leadership On The Question Of The Current Situation In Relations Between Russia And China (Excerpt)] ''Wilson Center''.</ref> 

[[Hungary]], [[Poland]], and [[Yugoslavia]] were all sharply critical of the Chinese suppression of the protests, while [[Cuba]], [[North Korea]], and [[East Germany]] were supportive. Ironically, June 4, 1989 was also the same date that Poland held its first democratic elections.<ref name="reslist"></ref>

====Hong Kong and Macau====
[[File:Pillar of Shame in Orange Color 02a (crop).jpg|thumb|right|165px|The 'Pillar of Shame' at Hong Kong University, monument to the victims of the massacre<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hongkong-pillar-shame-tiananmen/2021/10/13/2a897036-2b0a-11ec-b17d-985c186de338_story.html Hong Kong’s ‘Pillar of Shame’ sculpture for Tiananmen victims faces removal] by Shibani Mahtani (October 12, 2021) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>{{efn|The Pillar of Shame was secretly removed and allegedly put into storage by the University of Hong Kong in December 2021 during the PRC's crackdown on dissent within Hong Kong.<ref>[https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/184959/%27Pillar-of-Shame%27-removed-from-HKU-campus 'Pillar of Shame' removed from HKU campus] ''The Standard''.</ref>}}]]
The events in Beijing were met with intense fear in [[Hong Kong]], as residents interpreted Deng's characterization of the protests as "counter-revolutionary" to be a possible foreshadowing for crackdowns on their freedoms as well following reunification.<ref name="lizhi"></ref> Many residents were alarmed enough to consider various legal methods they could remain independent of China.<ref name="hkong">[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/22/magazine/hong-kong-on-borrowed-time.html Hong Kong on Borrowed Time] ''New York Times'' 1989</ref> There was also a rush to obtain foreign passports in case China's actions necessitated a mass exodus from the city.<ref name="hkong"></ref> British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] relaxed immigration laws for Hong Kong residents after expressing her "utter revulsion and outrage."<ref>Carroll, J. M. A Concise History of Hong Kong. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7425-3422-3.</ref>

==Legacy==
===Political reform: China's lost opportunity===
Ultimately, the 1989 protests were a disaster for Chinese democracy. The brutal crackdowns at Tiananmen and elsewhere broke the back of the movement, and China has remained a [[dictatorship]] 
of the [[Social class#Working class|proletariat]]
 ever since. The political fallout also impacted Deng's [[economic]] plans; public involvement in his liberalization agenda vanished and the whole thing dissolved into a blatant [[greed|wealth grab]] by members of the CCP.<ref name="chinachange">[https://chinachange.org/2015/06/02/how-the-tiananmen-massacre-changed-china-and-the-world/ How the Tiananmen Massacre Changed China, and the World] Ping, Hu. ''China Change'' June 2, 2015.</ref> As a result, China is now a state which has combined the worst excesses of [[capitalism]] with a massive dose of political corruption. In this respect, the protests were somewhat successful. As one of the former protest organizers puts it:<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124405068737681917 Prosperity Can't Erase Tiananmen] Wu'er Kaixi. ''Wall Street Journal Asia''. June 4, 2009</ref>
{{quotebox|In part, the change we hoped for has happened…. In 1989, when I went into exile, I said the reason for the protests initially was that China's youth wanted Nikes and wanted to be able to go to a bar with their girlfriends. Such things were not possible in the China I grew up in. They are possible today, largely because China's university students rose up in 1989 and the workers' [[union]]s and the common people joined them. The government realized it had no choice but to liberalize the economy if it was going to keep popular discontent at bay. In short, 20 years on, I believe the protests in 1989 were a kind of tragic success. China got its Nikes and discos.}}

The crackdown and China's subsequent intensifying [[authoritarianism]] should not be seen as inevitable. As shown above, the Party was initially reluctant to use force against the demonstrators in Tiananmen and elsewhere. The massacre and the subsequent purge of liberals like Zhao permanently transformed the Party into the narrow, single-minded faction led by conservative [[Elitism|elites]] that it is today. The violence led China's government to move in the opposite direction, becoming harsher and more authoritarian and relying increasingly on promoting aggressive Chinese [[nationalism]] to inspire the citizenry.<ref>[http://foreignpolicy.com/2009/06/04/how-tiananmen-changed-china-and-still-could/ How Tiananmen changed China — and still could] Twining, Dan. ''Foreign Policy.'' 6.4.9</ref> Compared with 1989, while China's GDP quadrupled, its free speech situation is much worse — its "[[Police state|social stability]]" budget is larger than its military funding.<ref name="chinaturn">[http://time.com/73594/china-tiananmen-square-25-years-later/ Tiananmen as the Turning Point: China's Impossible Balancing Act] Zheng Wang. ''TIME'' April 29, 2014</ref>

Another terrible tragedy is that the event pretty much ended China's history of mass protests, and dissidents no longer have a common rallying point. The former Tiananmen protesters fragmented after either going to jail or exile, with some, like {{wpl|Chai Ling}} embracing [[Conservatism|conservative politics]], and others like {{wpl|Liu Binyan}} remained in their beliefs of wanting a more just vision of Chinese socialism.

===Censorship and erasure in China===
{{main|Censorship}}
[[File:Google's Censorship in China.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hmmm. What could Google be helping China hide in the search results for "1989"?]]

China's [[coverup]] of the massacre began shortly afterwards with the 1989 publication of the Chinese government [[propaganda]] book, ''The Truth about the Beijing Turmoil'' (北京風波紀實).<ref name=parr>''The Truth about the Beijing Turmoil'' = 北京風波紀實, editor-in-chief 秦漢 = Qin Han (1989) Beijing Publishing House. ISBN 7200009261.</ref> The book was published in Chinese and English, hence intended for domestic and foreign distribution. The book characterized the protestors as counter-revolutionaries rather than democracy advocates; it blamed deaths from the event on stray bullets and ruffians.<ref>''The Chinese Photobook: From the 1900s to the Present'' = 中國攝影書集 by Martin Parr and WassinkLundgren (2015) Aperture. ISBN 1597112283.</ref>{{rp|262,265-266}} Even though the book was official government propaganda, it was later banned within China (along with all publications on the subject), creating a [[memory hole]].<ref name=parr/>{{rp|262}}<ref>[https://www.protestinphotobook.com/post/the-truth-about-the-beijing-turmoil The Truth About the Beijing Turmoil] (19 dic 2021) ''Protest in Photobook''.</ref>

China does not honor the anniversary of June 4<sup>th</sup> with any kind of acknowledgement or memorial. China has implemented substantial blocking of entire websites, known as "[[Great Firewall of China|The Great Firewall]]". However, it goes much further than that.

Every year around the beginning of June, Chinese censors work overtime to censor words like "Zhao Ziyang," "demonstrations," "democracy," "student movement," and "martial law".<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jun/09/tiananmen-square-silences-massacre-censored-words Tiananmen Square: the silences left by the massacre] Thein, Madeline. ''The Guardian.''</ref> It is not merely obvious phrases that are censored. References like "tank" and "square" are blocked, as are any reference to the date: "64" (for June 4), "8 squared", May 35, 65-1, and many other variations. Words like "anniversary" and "mourn" are also censored in web searches around June 4.<ref>[https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/06/five-years-sensitive-words-june-fourth/ Five Years of Sensitive Words on June Fourth], China Digital Times, June 1, 2016</ref><ref>[https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/06/04/64-tiananmen-related-words-china-is-blocking-today/ 64 Tiananmen-Related Words China Is Blocking Online Today], Jason Q. Ng, ''Wall Street Journal'', June 4, 2014</ref>

China's censorship apparatus is quite powerful; government figures released in 2013 estimated that private and public interests in China employed about two million people to monitor online content.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-congress-censorship-insight/tea-and-tiananmen-inside-chinas-new-censorship-machine-idUSKCN1C40LL Tea and Tiananmen: Inside China's new censorship machine] Pei Li. ''Reuters''. 09.29.17</ref> This number has likely increased dramatically since then. Human censors in China are usually recent college graduates, and are often dissatisfied with their jobs.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-internet-idUSBRE98A18Z20130912 At Sina Weibo's censorship hub, China's Little Brothers cleanse online chatter] Li Hui. ''Reuters''</ref> As one person said, "People are often torn when they start, but later they go numb and just do the job. One thing I can tell you is that we are worked very hard and paid very little." China has also gone so far as to detain human rights activists leading up to the anniversary.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-04/china-detains-activists-amid-tiananmen-square-anniversary/7477362 Tiananmen Square massacre: China detains activists, censors internet ahead of 27th anniversary]</ref> 

After the massacre, the government launched what it called the "[[Nationalism in history textbooks|Patriotic Education]] Campaign," which revised school curricula and textbooks to not only erase the events of the day, but to cast the Party as the protectors and rightful leaders of the people.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/how-china-has-rewritten-the-history-of-tiananmen-square-1.2657042 How China has rewritten the history of Tiananmen Square] ''CBC''</ref> This was unfortunately quite successful, as much of China's youth is unaware of details of June 4<sup>th</sup> and uninterested in making any effort to learn.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/04/opinion/tiananmen-forgotten.html Tiananmen, Forgotten] Gao, Helen. ''New York Times.'' June 3, 2014</ref> An informal survey conducted by [[NPR]] found that, out of 100 Chinese college students shown the iconic "Tank Man" image, only 15 recognized it.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/2014/6/3/5775918/25-years-after-tiananmen-most-chinese-univeristy-students-have-never 25 years after Tiananmen, most Chinese university students have never heard of it] ''Vox'' Jun 3, 2014</ref> A documentary filmed in 2005 showed that most Chinese people, when asked about the events of June 4<sup>th</sup>, were either ignorant or too fearful to give an open answer.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/2014/6/4/5779066/ask-regular-people-in-china-tiananmen This is what happens when you ask regular people in China about Tiananmen] Jun 4, 2014</ref>

One example of attitudes among people not born until after the massacre involved prominent influencer Li Jiaqi, known for his sales work for several e-commerce companies. On 4 June 2022, Li broadcast a cookery segment showing how to make a cake that looked like a tank. The government judged this was a reference to the Tiananmen Square Massacre: the stream was cut and Li disappeared from the internet. However it's not clear that Li even realised the significance of the date, and many of his fans initially had no idea why he disappeared from his prominent role online, but have investigated the massacre to discover the reason behind his disappearance. According to academic Lüqiu Luwei, "[[Streisand effect|Ironically, many on Chinese social media seem to know why now.]] They call it the Li Jiaqi Paradox."<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/09/li-jiaqi-chinese-influencer-career-tiananmen-square-tank-cake-stream Li Jiaqi: Chinese influencer’s career hangs in balance after ‘tank cake’ stream], The Guardian, June 9, 2022</ref><ref>[https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v44/n14/mimi-jiang/diary Diary], Mimi Jiang, London Review of Books, Vol. 44 No. 14 · 21 July 2022</ref>

==See also==
*[[Chinese Civil War]]
* {{wpl|Bonus Army}} and {{wpl|Kent State Shootings}}

==External links==
* ''[http://tsquare.tv/ Gate of Heavenly Peace]'' — Pretty much THE documentary on the event, with numerous first hand interviews and footage of politicians and protest leaders alike.
* [https://www.buzzfeed.com/gabrielsanchez/disturbing-pictures-from-the-tiananmen-square-massacre?utm_term=.skvVLdGzK0#.lqJogkVawb 27 Heartbreaking Pictures From The Tiananmen Square Massacre] — (''Warning: some graphic images, but they are censored unless you click to view them'')
* [https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/tiananmen-square-protests-in-pictures/ The Tiananmen Square protests in pictures, 1989] — (''Warning: this one also contains graphic images, and they are uncensored.'')
* [http://www.businessinsider.com/words-china-banned-from-search-engines-after-tiananmen-square-2014-6 94 Search Terms That China Bans Because Of Tiananmen Square]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Authoritarianism]]
[[Category:Censorship]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Cold War]]
[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:Crimes against humanity]]
[[Category:Denialism]]
[[Category:Government coverups]]
[[Category:Government incompetence]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:History of communism]]
[[Category:Politics]]

Categories: Authoritarianism, Censorship, China, Cold War, Communism, Crimes against humanity, Denialism, Government coverups, Government incompetence, History, History of communism, Politics