In 1989, protests by students in Tiananmen Square changed the course of history — resulting in a massacre the Chinese government still denies today. Watch CNN’s coverage from on the ground that year. After the Chinese government pulled the plug on the broadcast, CNN reported by telephone and used video travelers snuck out of the country.
The Tiananmen Square massacre, also known as the June Fourth incident, was a brutal crackdown by the Chinese government
on peaceful protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. The event is considered one of the most significant
and disturbing episodes in modern Chinese history.
### Background:
In April 1989, China was experiencing a period of rapid economic growth and social change under the leadership of Deng
Xiaoping. However, this growth came at a cost, as many citizens were frustrated with the government’s handling of issues
such as corruption, inequality, and environmental degradation. On April 15, 1989, student protests broke out in
Tiananmen Square, calling for democratic reforms and an end to corruption.
### Causes of the Massacre:
The Tiananmen Square massacre was a culmination of several factors:
1. **Student-led protests**: The students, mostly from Beijing’s top universities, had gathered in Tiananmen Square on
April 15 to demand democratic reforms and greater freedoms. They were inspired by China’s “May 4th Movement” in 1919,
which called for an end to the Cultural Revolution.
2. **Economic dissatisfaction**: As the Chinese economy began to grow rapidly, many citizens became frustrated with
corruption, income inequality, and a lack of social mobility.
3. **Leadership instability**: In April 1989, two senior leaders, Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang, who were seen as
reform-minded, died or were removed from their positions. This created a power vacuum that the hardline leadership
sought to fill.
4. **Militarization**: The Chinese military had been mobilized in Beijing’s suburbs, which raised concerns among
students and protesters.
### Events Leading to the Massacre:
– **May 13, 1989**: The government banned all gatherings in Tiananmen Square, citing “social unrest.”
– **May 20, 1989**: Beijing declared martial law.
– **June 3-4, 1989**: Chinese troops and tanks surrounded the square. Thousands of students and civilians were trapped
inside.
**The Massacre**: At dawn on June 4, 1989, the military launched a massive assault on Tiananmen Square, using tanks,
artillery, and infantry to clear the square. The protesters, who had set up makeshift barricades and shelters, were
brutally suppressed. Estimates of the number of deaths vary widely, but it is estimated that between 200 to over 3,000
people died during the massacre.
### Aftermath:
In the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre, China’s government swiftly repressed any dissenting voices and
tightened its grip on power. The event marked a turning point in China’s modern history, with the country’s
authoritarian leadership suppressing democratic movements and silencing opposition voices for decades to come.
The Tiananmen Square massacre remains a sensitive topic in China, and discussing it openly is heavily restricted.
However, the event has been widely condemned by human rights organizations, governments around the world, and Chinese
dissidents, who have called for greater transparency and accountability from the Chinese government.
