US, China tussle over Tiananmen anniversary

BEIJING: China lashed out at the United States on Monday after Washington marked the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen protests by urging Beijing to disclose how many people were killed in the crackdown.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement to “remember the tragic loss of innocent lives” on June 4, 1989, when the Communist Party sent tanks to quash the peaceful demonstrations around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Open discussion of the crackdown is forbidden in China, where hundreds − perhaps more − died. A British diplomatic cable released last year said at least 10,000 people were killed.

Pompeo quoted the dissident Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who died of cancer while in custody last year, as saying: “The ghosts of June 4th have not yet been laid to rest.” The chief US diplomat added: “We join others in the international community in urging the Chinese government to make a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing.”

He also urged China to release those jailed for trying to keep the memory of the protests alive, and stop harassing Tia nan men participants and their relatives.

The protests are branded a“counterrevolutionary rebellion” by Chinese authorities and many on the mainland remain unaware of the crackdown due to censorship. “The Chinese government has already come to a clear conclusion regarding the political disturbances that occurred in the late 1980s,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

Pompeo’s statement is “groundlessly accusing the Chinese government and interfering in China’s internal affairs. The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes this,” Hua said.

She said China has lodged an oficial diplomatic protest with the United States.

“We urge the US to abandon prejudice, correct mistakes, stop irresponsible remarks, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and do more to develop Sino-us relations instead of doing things to undermine” them, she said.

Families of pro-democracy protesters killed in the 1989 bloodbath have recently written an open letter urging President Xi Jinping to acknowledge their suffering and “re-evaluate the June Fourth massacre.”

These mi-autonomous territory of hong Kong is the only place on Chinese soil where the anniversary is openly marked with a famous vigil in Victoria Park on June 4 each year.