Anti-communist demonstrations erupted in China in 1989. Millions of students and civilians gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square demanding democracy, freedom and an end to corruption. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on June 3 ordered tanks to violently suppress the demonstrators, causing the deaths of hundreds to thousands of innocents.
This bloody suppression of civilians, now known globally as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, shocked the entire world and has become an extremely important page in China’s history. Although 35 years have passed since the incident, the CCP still refuses to apologize, prohibiting even so much as the mention of the massacre. This is their attempt to conceal and desalinate history.
The CCP claims that this prohibition is a necessary measure to maintain social stability. However, no matter how the CCP attempts to explain itself, it is impossible to erase their crime of using cruel and violent means to slaughter and oppress civilians.
The Tiananmen Square Massacre is a dark piece of history the CCP cannot erase, and it led to an hour of challenges for the communist regime. The bloody act of suppression not only led to intense domestic and international criticism, but also cast a shadow over the CCP’s international image.
Despite the CCP’s attempts to divert civilians’ attention through diplomatic tactics and military intimidation, the incident still influences the party’s political direction. It has become their Achilles’ heel. It is evident that the spread of ideas such as democracy, human rights and rule of law are gradually shattering the CCP’s autocratic tyranny.
Hong Kong had, for a time, been the only part of China allowed to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre, doing so through an annual candlelight vigil. The vigil not only served as a way to pay respects to the victims of the incident, but to express aspirations toward freedom and democracy.
However, in the wake of the imposing of Hong Kong’s National Security Law in 2020, the CCP tightened its control over the region.
The Hong Kong government has cited Article 23 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China to arrest prominent Hong Kong democracy advocate and former vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements Chow Hang-tung (鄒幸彤) and six other organizers of the candlelight vigil, triggering severe criticism. The CCP’s actions again make it apparent that they aim to cover up history, in addition to inhibiting the democratic freedom of Hong Kongers.
People must look back on the incident to safeguard its truths and uphold democratic freedom. They must engrave incidents like this in their memory to ensure that they would not happen again.
As the CCP attempts to conceal history, people must bring the truth to light, thereby preserving their faith in the struggle for freedom and democracy. This way, they can honor those who died and establish proper ethical standards for generations to come.
Chen Chun is an international affairs researcher.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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