This week many around the world will remember the Tiananmen massacres of 4 June 1989 and reflect on how China has changed in the past 25 years since the Chinese Government ruthlessly drove tanks into crowds and shot its own citizens, who were calling for democracy. While the Chinese authorities continue to suppress peaceful protests, censor internet and international media, the tragedy of the Tiananmen incident endures in its denial; without the freedom to openly examine the past, reconciliation with its recent history remains a distant ideal.  

Perhaps the Tiananmen Square incident was an awakening; a decisive and defining moment existentially testing the Chinese regime as mass protests flared up in over 180 cities.

Many experts have noted that China’s decision to raise an authoritarian fist over its citizens was not inevitable. A democratic route of dialogue and transparency was also on the table, but to the dismay of many, China pursued economic liberalization and strengthening of the security apparatus, without democratization or political reforms.

The question of China’s political development is not necessarily about two diverging and opposing worldviews. China’s economic growth and global influence is not automatically contrary to protecting and promoting human rights, fighting corruption and impunity, safeguarding freedoms, and battling climate change.

Even after a quarter of a century has passed, the urgency of calling attention to stifled freedoms and unjust violations remains as pertinent as in 1989. Despite China’s economic successes - the object of envy for most Western nations plagued by an ongoing, discouraging and humbling economic crisis – the global leader maintains a privileged position within the international arena. Western leaders may be increasingly concerned about the political and security dimensions of over-relying on China and allowing it free economic and political reign, but a strong, unwavering and resolute approach towards the authoritarian giant is nevertheless still absent. 

Without any substantial political reforms, perhaps Tiananmen’s legacy will constitute simply a warning to the Chinese Government of impending resistance movements; and a warning is not to be dismissed. President Xi Jingping is likely aware of the surging threats posed by critics, oppressed minorities and victims of a long list of human rights abuses. The unapologetic ruthlessness with which China discriminates, marginalizes and abuses Tibetans, Uyghurs and Inner Mongolians proves that the Chinese leadership is extremely nervous and paranoid about any possible crippling or fragmentation within its borders. Yet, its approach remains unchanged and without vision.

The Government's tactics of divide and rule, systematic promotion of fear and intimidation, assimilation, lack of representation, lack of rule of law or democratic values have made East Turkestan, Tibet and Inner Mongolia the current battle grounds for control and influence, which has led to increasingly more frequent bloody incidents. 

In 1989, student protesters were identified as “counterrevolutionary” propagandists. Today, the Chinese authorities are still quick to turn to crackdowns and State propaganda as a means of ensuring ‘public order’, and labelling demonstrators as ‘terrorists’ or ‘separatists’.

This tactic is surprisingly simplistic and transparent. As Han Chinese police turn to violence to disrupt and disperse protesters; they arbitrarily imprison or even forcibly disappear members of ethnic minority communities, and impose the Government’s vision of ‘order’ to protect the status quo, but in the process also demonize protesters and ensure their international isolation. Without international solidarity and support, China’s ethnic minorities have little hope for achieving a dignified life and a full respect of their minority human rights.

As unexplored opportunities for ensuring internal stability and dialogue mount, voices of dissent grow stronger, but for these voices to matter, history cannot be forgotten. As artist Ai Weiwei noted on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, “lacking the right to remember, we choose to forget”. For many in China, the act of forgetting is more dangerous than ever.

Forgetting the Tiananmen Square means forgetting that the demands for democracy and the widespread condemnation of concentrated power, impunity and corruption have evaporated into thin air.  

Photo by ABC News.