BEIJING—For the majority of Chinese citizens, the 36th anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests went by unnoticed, reflecting the intentions of the ruling Communist Party.
The atmosphere was heavily secured on Wednesday around Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the epicenter of the student-led demonstrations that once threatened the Communist Party. Ordered by the then-leader Deng Xiaoping, military forces were deployed on the night of June 3-4, pushing their way past resisting crowds with live ammunition. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of hundreds, possibly thousands, including some soldiers.
The ruling Party has persistently attempted to erase the “political turmoil” of 1989 from public memory by imposing restrictions on any commemoration or mention of the crackdown, even scrubbing references from the internet.
Over the years, this ban extended to Hong Kong, where once-thriving annual vigils are now prohibited. Chan Kim-kam, a former district council member, was questioned by customs officials after promoting white candles with an Instagram post titled “June, we don’t forget,” illustrating the extent of these prohibitions.
In contrast, in Taiwan—a self-governed island yet claimed by China—the memory of June 4 is preserved through large gatherings.
The 1989 crackdown solidified Communist Party dominance. Tiananmen Square, a vast strip in Beijing surrounded by grand communist-era edifices and the mausoleum of the Party’s founding figure Mao Zedong, remains significant.
During the spring of 1989, university students occupied the square, advocating for more freedoms, which split party leaders. By sending in troops, modern China’s trajectory was altered decisively, bolstering the Communist hold as it relaxed economic policies. Chinese authorities now argue that the subsequent development validates those choices.
“The Chinese government has already reached a clear conclusion on the late 1980s turmoil,” stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. He emphasized the country’s commitment to its path of “socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
The Tiananmen Mothers group, composed of the victims’ relatives, issued an online appeal for an independent inquiry into the events of June 4, 1989, demanding a comprehensive list of casualties, compensation, and legal action against those accountable.
Meanwhile, the British and German Embassies in Beijing attempted to commemorate the anniversary on social media, but posts were swiftly removed, likely due to censorship. The Canadian and German Embassies discreetly marked the day with displays like a single candle image.
In Hong Kong, the populace—once vocal about such issues—has been subdued considerably. A carnival featuring Chinese culture was held in Victoria Park, the former vigil spot. Authorities first canceled the vigil due to the pandemic and later arrested organizers in 2021, reflecting broader measures post-2019’s protests.
“Hong Kongers are now silent lambs post-2019,” said King Ng, visiting the park.
On that day, the police presence was significant, detaining several individuals potentially staging protests. Among them were a young girl with flowers, a man appearing to pray, and another wearing a T-shirt with “Vindication for June 4” printed. When a woman with a mosquito lamp was questioned, she was eventually allowed to leave.
Acts of solidarity included electronic candles displayed by the American consulate and a “VIIV” projection—Roman numerals for June 4—by the British consulate.
Other consulates, particularly British and Canadian, acknowledged the date through social media. Hong Kong was a British colony up until 1997. The American consulate shared U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s message online. “The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, but the world will never forget,” he stated.
In Taiwan, President Lai Ching-te seized the event to challenge China’s authoritarianism and highlight Taiwan’s democratic principles. He differentiated between Taiwan’s multiparty system and China’s single-party model. “Authoritarian regimes often choose silence and forgetfulness, whereas democracies preserve truth,” Lai stated on Facebook.
Taiwan’s transformation into a democracy started in the late 1980s, seeking U.S. and international support to deter Chinese aggression. In Taipei’s Freedom Square, a vigil under rainy skies saw several hundred participants, centered around a replica of Hong Kong University’s “Pillar of Shame,” a protest monument removed by authorities.
China has targeted Hong Kong student leaders who fled overseas with bounties, while silencing or jailing those remaining. Some have found refuge in Taiwan.
Wu Lang-huang, a Taiwanese educator and eyewitness to the military intervention in 1989, remains committed to preserving that history. “This is about understanding modern Hong Kong and Taiwan’s evolution,” Wu noted.
A vigil organizer, known only as Mimi to avoid repercussions, stressed the necessity of remembrance despite generational gaps since 1989. “Memory serves as a form of resistance,” she said.
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