Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : Thirty-five years after the Chinese government's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, Taiwan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to remembering the tragic events of June 4, 1989. Both nations emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory and called on Beijing to respect human rights.
Taiwan's newly inaugurated President, Lai Ching-te, stated on social media that "the memory of June 4th will not disappear in the torrent of history." He highlighted that this poignant anniversary serves to remind democratic Taiwan of the preciousness of freedom and democracy, asserting that Taiwan will continue to share its democratic experiences to help build a better world. Lai emphasized that any regime should bravely face the voices of its people, especially the youth, rather than suppress them.
Across the Pacific, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed these sentiments. He declared, "We will never forget the tens of thousands of peaceful Chinese pro-democracy protesters who were brutally assaulted." Blinken honored the "Tiananmen Mothers" and other advocates who continue to seek accountability for the killings and the release of those unjustly detained for commemorating the anniversary. The U.S. statement also urged Beijing to end ongoing human rights abuses, including the mass detention in Xinjiang, repression in Tibet, the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong under its national security law, and transnational repression.
These commemorations stand in stark contrast to China's official stance, where any public discussion or remembrance of the Tiananmen crackdown is heavily censored and suppressed. Authorities in Hong Kong, once a beacon for vigils remembering Tiananmen, have increasingly cracked down on commemorative activities, arresting several individuals in the lead-up to this year's anniversary under new security laws.
The enduring calls from Taiwan and the U.S. underscore a global insistence on not allowing the Tiananmen Square massacre to be erased from history, linking the past event to present-day concerns about China's human rights record and its increasingly authoritarian approach both domestically and internationally.
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