China Faces Sever Criticism - Taiwan's leader recalls the Tiananmen Square incident.
Taiwan's President, Tsai Ing-wen, paid tribute to the victims of the brutal suppression of democracy protests at Beijing's Tian'anmen Square in 1989 and criticized China's handling of the issue. "A true respectful nation is one that permits its citizens to voice their opinions," she posted on Facebook on Tuesday. She asserted that every political authority should possess the strength to confront the voice of the population.
Thirty-five years back, the People's Liberation Army quashed weeks of peaceful demonstrations against the government and in favor of more democracy in Beijing in the early hours of June 4th. Hundreds of people were murdered around the Square of Heavenly Peace (Tian'anmen). This topic is strictly forbidden in China. Tsai said, "The memory of June 4th will not fade away into history and we will keep working tirelessly to preserve its memory."
The Taiwanese Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urged China's government to have the guts to admit the historical truths of June 4th and take on a more transparent approach toward differing viewpoints.
The German embassy in Beijing exhibited a video of flickering candles in numerous windows of its structure on Tuesday night - a symbol of remembrance for June 4th. Human rights groups also criticized the commemoration. "The Chinese government has yet to take responsibility for the human rights abuses committed during the military operation," stated Jasna Causevic of the Society for Threatened Peoples.
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- Despite the strict prohibition in China, discussions about the Tian'anmen Square incidents of 1989, often referred to as the "June 4th Incident," are common in cities like Taipei, where democracy is cherished.
- In response to Tsai's comments, China's government accused Taiwan of interfering in its internal affairs and reiterated its stance that the issue is closed.
- Germany, a strong advocate for human rights, regularly commemorates the June 4th incident, a move that has often led to criticism from China.
- Politicians in Berlin have called on China's government to respect human rights and reflect on its past actions, but these pleas have not resulted in any significant changes.
- In a joint statement, the EU and the United States expressed their support for Taiwan's right to discuss its history freely and criticized China's treatment of dissidents.
- As calls for democracy and human rights continue to echo in Beijing and beyond, the future of China's relationship with the international community remains uncertain.
