Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989 were a just and peaceful campaign orchestrated by the unarmed yet highly educated Chinese university students.
Like any great power, China’s strategic history is ridden with wars, military operations and military operations other than war (MOOTW).
Historically, the very creation of the People’s Republic of China was the result of almost 22 years of a bloody civil war (1927-1949), which culminated with the communist victory over the Republicans.
During the war, Republicans and Communists even temporarily halted the operations and fought alongside against the invading Imperial Japanese Forces. However, with the Japanese defeat and the subsequent unconditional surrender in September 1945; hostilities resumed.
In modern times, the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and the Tiananmen Square Protests (1989) are entirely distinguished when ethnic Chinese fought against their very own race. However, apparently for Communist China, besides race and political ideology, the supreme obedience to the Communist Party of China (CPC) and above all, the Chinese hegemony within and without; are of pivotal importance. This is what China’s history reveals in ensuring peace with Chinese characteristics, simply known as Pax Sinica.
Arguably, the Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989 were a just and peaceful campaign orchestrated by the unarmed yet highly educated Chinese university students gathered from all over China. Being educated and enlightened, the protestors demanded a Western-like liberal democratic system of government; rejected Mao’s unquestionable legacy; challenged CPC’s monopoly over politics and transparency in the state’s conduct.
Nevertheless, some Chinese speculate the protestors were in fact, Red Guards, loyal to Mao; rejecting Den Xiaoping’s opening-up of the economy and demanded the revival of Mao’s political thought. However, the gigantic portrait of Mao painted in black colour by the protestors in front of the Great People’s Hall in Beijing makes an observer think the other way.
During the war, Republicans and Communists even temporarily halted the operations and fought alongside against the invading Imperial Japanese Forces. However, with the Japanese defeat and the subsequent unconditional surrender in September 1945; hostilities resumed
However, declining to meet the demands, Communist China unleashed an unrestrained use of deadly firepower on the protestors that resulted in more than three thousand unlawful killings. It is worth mentioning that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) used all kinds of weapons against the protestors including main battle tanks (MBTs). The PLA’s armour sieged and surrounded the Tiananmen Square, while other units indiscriminately fired upon the unarmed protestors. During this MOOTW, a remarkable act of gallantry and determination was rendered by a peaceful protestor who stood like a stone wall in front of the incoming column of PLA tanks. The person was named as the “Tank Man” and the scene is known as a picture of the century. Nonetheless, unfortunately, the fate of the Tank Man is unknown who might still be rotting in a Chinese gulag or just was eliminated like other protestors. China blamed the West for instigating and encouraging the agitators; nevertheless, Communist establishments leave a little or no space for a foreign element to extend support for such an endeavour.
Analytically, the protestors’ demands were perhaps following John Locke’s unalienable rights. The protestors never demanded an independent piece of land or a separate political entity. It is pertinent to mention that the protestors marched with the replica of the American Statue of Liberty i.e. the Columbia, that represented the spread of manifest destiny and liberal values. However, the peaceful protest was brutally quelled by Communist China and besides the unlawful killings, thousands were put in prisons under severe inhumane conditions.
The contemporary situation in Hong Kong is bad. It is strange the people of Hong Kong are protesting against a “Peacefully Rising China.”
The recent extradition law passed by the Chinese-led Hong Kong Government to prosecute the residents of Hong Kong in mainland China is quite unjust and is reminiscent of an imperial act to punish the colonists. It is quite unfortunate that so far, four Hong Kong residents have committed suicide publicly to condemn Chinese intervention. The conduct of China concerning Hong Kong has resulted in the emergence of a unique political resistance where youngsters like Joshua Wong, Alex Chow Yong-kang, Nathan Law Kwun-Chung and Agnes Chow Ting have formed a political party known as Demosisto. The resistance offered by the young blood reminds the Sons of Liberty and the Minuteman Militia which played a vital role in the American War of Independence (1775-1783).
It is a moment of great concern for the Taiwanese people who could become another Hong Kong, provided the unification of the People’s Republic of China and Republic of China. It would not be wrong to argue that there is no or little place for people’s will in the People’s Republic of China. Ostensibly, still, Chinese strategic psychology is characterised by Mao’s notion of political power emanating from the barrel of a gun. The ongoing Chinese intervention in Hong Kong and the possibility of armed operations by the PLA can be interpreted as the precursors of China being an imperial power. These acts have greatly unveiled the true Chinese dream of connecting the world under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In hindsight, American political scientist John Mearsheimer’s thesis that “China’s Rise will not be Peaceful” (2004) is getting traction and momentum.
The writer can be reached at mmab11@gmail.com