Question: who ruled china during the tiananmen square protests of 1989
Answer: Party and government leaders Name Position ( s ) in 1989 Deng Xiaoping Chairman of the Central Military Commission ; de facto `` paramount leader '' Chen Yun Chairman of the CPC Central Advisory Commission Zhao Ziyang General Secretary of the Communist Party of China First Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Li Peng Premier of the People 's Republic of China Qiao Shi Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary of the CPC Political and Legislative Affairs Committee Hu Qili First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party Yao