Square Massacre
On the 4th of June, 1989, Chinese military forces began the massacre of pro-democracy protestors, consisting mainly of students and workers. By the time the massacre ended on the 5th of June 1989, it is estimated that about 3000 were killed and over 30,000 were injured. The incident drew massive protests by people in countries across the globe, their governments strongly condemning the Chinese government handling of the situation. Protests were taking place in the US as well, with calls being made for it to use its growing strength to protect the human rights of those being victimized in China.
The US had been attempting to build healthy diplomatic relations with China since early 70’s. It was in the process of sharing military knowledge as well providing financial aid to China’s various infrastructural and military initiatives. The purpose of this eagerness to develop diplomatic relations with the Chinese was to raise a communist power to oppose that of the then USSR. However, as civil unrest was growing in China, news of the pro-democratic movement had reached US shores. While it had been expected that such unabashed display of anti-communism would draw some ire from the Chinese government, an outright massacre of this scale against civilians was shocking.
As a result of months of media coverage about the student movement before the massacre had led to knowledgeable support amongst the American people who hoped for a democratic China. Many US and Canadian citizens donated generously towards furthering the movement . However, as tensions grew, US embassies moved US families out of the country and travel to Beijing was suspended until further notice. This added further pressure on the Chinese government to disperse the protests effectively in order to regain normal functioning and trade.
After the shocking events of the 4th and 5th of July, President Bush issued several policy changes to make the Chinese government realize that ‘this is not business as usual’ . Humanitarian and medical aid was immediately dispatched for the victims of the massacre. Chinese students studying the US received extensions to their visas to prevent their return to China in a hostile environment. US diplomatic worked to prevent China from borrowing from global organizations and the US placed a hold on military contracts with immediate effect. In 1989, China had received $ 600 million in weapons from the US and this was a major blow, especially with other foreign countries following suite.
Despite these measures, there was widespread outcry with Americans calling the Bush administration’s stance as being moderate. This was mainly due to the effort and funds already spent in developing diplomatic relations with China and also the future prospects of this association in the interest of the US. These claims were later proved to be true when, as a result of the Right to Information Act, previously classified documents were published in June 1999 by the National Security Archive . As a result of the massacre, the American people still view the Chinese administration as severe violators of human rights. The lack of acknowledgement of wrong doing even today on the part of the Chinese government further adds to this sentiment.
The globalization of the Chinese markets were severely hit as several American companies withdrew operations from PRC. The embargo on military trade placed by the European Union and the US is still in effect even today. Although the EU suggested the lifting the embargo, it was heavily opposed by the US. Diplomatic relations between the US and China never fully recovered and an air of distrust lingers.
Bibliography
Gearge, H. (1990). The Broken Mirror: China after Tianenman. Chicago: St. James Press.
Richelson, J. T., & Evans, M. L. (1999, June 1). Tiananmen Square, 1989 - The Declassified History. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 16: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/index.html
Yi, M., & Thompson, M. V. (1989). Crisis at Tianenmen: Reform and reality in modern China. San Francisco: China books and Periodicals Inc.
