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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on June 3 (local time), a day before the 37th anniversary of China's bloody crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, condemning that no censorship by the Chinese Communist Party can erase the truth of the past.
In the statement titled "37th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre," Rubio said, "The world remembers that June 4 marks 37 years since the Chinese Communist Party ordered its military to attack thousands of peaceful protesters in and around Tiananmen Square." He recalled that "the Chinese students, workers, and citizens who lost their lives had gathered to exercise their God-given human rights and to demand democratic reform and accountability for corruption."
He continued, "We remember their lives, honor their legacy, and recognize that no amount of censorship can erase the past," stressing that "the cause of those who sacrificed to defend the inalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will one day be vindicated."
In this regard, AFP noted that "Rubio's statement is notable for coming less than three weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in mid-last month." At the summit with Xi, President Trump agreed to a fragile trade truce, easing tensions between the two countries compared with last year.
During his time as a U.S. senator, Rubio had advocated a hardline approach toward China and was placed on Chinese authorities' sanctions list.
China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement criticizing the United States, as it did last year. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing that day, "The erroneous U.S. remarks distort historical facts and slander China's political system and development path." She added, "The United States interfered in China's internal affairs. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition."
Mao said, "The Chinese government long ago reached a clear conclusion on the political turmoil that occurred in the late 1980s," and argued that "the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the choice of history and of the people, and enjoys the wholehearted support of the entire Chinese people and full recognition from the international community."
She urged that "the United States should fulfill its commitment to respect China and the Chinese people through concrete actions and stop fomenting ideological confrontation," and that "it should stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of so-called democracy and human rights."
In China, references to the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown that occurred on June 4, 1989, are taboo. Even in Hong Kong, where the largest Tiananmen memorial events were once held, large-scale candlelight vigils have disappeared due to restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. As a result, memorial gatherings for the Tiananmen victims are being held in London, New York, Berlin, and Taipei, among other cities. In Washington, D.C., U.S. lawmakers are scheduled to issue statements, hold hearings, and hold press conferences on the Tiananmen incident on June 4.
