Tiananmen, 1989: Prelude, Process, Legacy – Teaching Guide

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Vocabulary of Note:

Liberalization – reducing regulations in economics, government, or politics
Estrangement – weakened communication in a relationship, often hostile
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Structure (numbers are as of 2023):
- General Secretary of the CCP (1)
- Politburo Standing Committee (7 members)
- Politburo (of the “Central Committee” (25 members)
- Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (c. 370 members)
- National Party Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (c. 3000 members)
“Eight Elders” (“Eight Great Eminent Officials”) – early leaders of the CCP in China, all born before 1919, who held significant leadership positions in the People’s Republic of China after 1949, and who were respected and consulted in retirement due to their experience and contributions. Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997) was the key member of the group. All were deceased as of 2015. (Their descendants are often referred to as “the princelings” because of the privileges they are often afforded or demand.)

Names of Note*:

Tiananmen – Gate (men/mon) of Heavenly (Tian/Ti-en) Peace (An); refers to both the main gate in front of the Imperial Palace (“Forbidden City”) in Beijing and to the large open square in front of the gate
Zhongnanhai (Jung-nan-hi)– the enclosed area that where the top leaders of China live and work; it lies just next to the Forbidden City
Mao Zedong (1893-1976) – supreme leader of the CCP, who led the CCP to victory in 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was declared, and was Chairman of the CCP until his death in 1976
Deng Xiaoping (Dung Shee-ow-ping) (1904-1997)—early member of the CCP, economic reformer, most powerful member of the CCP from 1978-1989
Hu Yaobang (1915-1989) – Chairman and then General Secretary of the CCP from 1981-1987, economic and political reformer, forced to step down in 1987 by more conservative party leaders
Zhao Ziyang (Jao Za-yang)(1919-2005) – Premier of China 1981-87 and then General Secretary of the CCP, 1987-89, overseeing political reforms
Li Peng (1928-2019) – Premier if China from 1987-1998; member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo until 2002 (retirement)
Qiao Shi (Chee-ow Shir) (1924-2015) – member of the Politburo Standing Committee from 1987-1997; abstained in crucial vote on response to students in Tiananmen
Zhiang Zemin (Jang Zi-min) (1926-2022) – General Secretary of the CCP from 1989-2002
Xi Jinping (1953–) General Secretary of the CCP from 2012; supreme leader of China as of 2023
Li Lu (Lee-loo) – a leader of the student demonstrations in Tiananmen, who later escaped to the U.S., earned three degrees from Columbia University, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Columbia University as of 2023

* Surnames in Chinese come first, followed by the given name

Outline of Presentation

Introduction to Tiananmen – visuals, maps and explanation
“Prelude”: Timeline of Events from 1976 (death of Mao) to 1988 [1:56]
- Deng Xiaoping economic policy of “Reform and Opening Up”
- Foreign trade, economic growth, growth of a middle class
- Policy debates over “opening up” to Western countries not friendly to China
- Increased demand for raw materials
- Inflation
- Government still controls economy; access by others often through corruption
Crisis begins
- death of Hu Yaobang (April 15, 1989) [7:00]
Hu is strong proponent of reform and liberal; sidelined
University students in Beijing come to Tiananmen to demand that Hu be honored
Leadership divided [8:30]
Tradition of student movements in 20^th c China, often with major political ramifications (example: May 4, 1919)
Zhao Ziyang, General Secretary (or head) of CCP and more liberal, away in North Korea on scheduled visit
Li Peng, Premier of China (head of the government), more conservative is in Beijing
Deng Xiaoping, officially retired, but sole decision-maker in event of division, as per 1987 CCP Party Congress secret decision
Authorization of April 26 editorial labeling protests an “anti-CCP Movement”
Student response; great public support [10:00]
- Students from other cities, factory workers, gov and party workers
Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union, 1985-1991, arrives in Beijing [14:00]
- For first Sino-Soviet Summit (May 15-19)and rapprochement after 30 years of division; many events canceled due to students in square
- International press in Beijing to cover the summit and also then report on demonstrations in Tiananmen
- Note: This is one reason why there was so much international, visual coverage of the event, and interviews with participants broadcast on TV.
Hunger Strike begins on May 13 [15:30]
- Demands:
  - Dialogue
  - Transparency
  - Rights
- Statue of “Goddess of Democracy” made by students [16:00]
- What did the students really want? What would have it led to? Is the Chinese concept of democracy the same as the American? (Andrew Nathan, the speaker, has written on this) [16:50]
Chinese CCP Leadership response [18:00]
- conservatives within party do not want open dialogue; fear of “bad elements” would disrupt a healthy dialogue and challenge CCP leadership, bringing it down
- Crucial meeting of top Party leaders:
  - Politburo Standing Committee (see note on CCP structure)
  - Division; cannot make decision, taken to the Eight Elders
- Decision to remove Zhao Ziyang, a liberal, as General Secretary of the CCP; He lives under house arrest for the remainder of his life Zhiang Zemin installed as new General Secretary of the CCP [23:00]
Tiananmen Papers, large collection of memos, minutes of meetings among Top CCP leaders, brought out of China – by someone who says he “wants them published” — and given to Andrew Nathan and others who translate and release as a book in 2001. These papers provide the background information on the CCP deliberations and actions; “inside story” from the point of view of the CCP
“I have come too late.” Zhao meets with students in Tiananmen Square and pleads with them to disperse. (Zhao knows he is no longer in power.) [24:00]
May 20^th – martial law declared; army called in
PLA “People’s Liberation Army” is an army, Not trained for civilian control
June 3^rd– 4^th – army moves into Beijing
- Students do begin to clear the square; how many remained?
- Numbers killed
- Arrest warrants issued for 27 students (all eventually are able to leave China)
  - Li Lu
“Tank Man” photo
Debate over “massacre”
Aftermath:
- Jiang Zemin and Li Peng leaders in charge – pursue cautious economic Policy and strict political policy
- Deng Xiaoping in background, exercises his still paramount power
  - “Southern Tour” by Deng in 1992 – revives economic reform of “Reform and opening up”; Deng’s last major initiative Note: the southern provinces of China have historically been at the forefront of economic policy changes
  - China’s economy—large growth in the 1990s
- “Historical Amnesia” regarding Tiananmen
Legacy:
- “Xi Jinping System” –Xi Jinping, becomes CCP head in 2012
  - Economic growth with CCP control (although as of 2023, tightened government control)
  - Very tight control politically
2020 National Security Law passed for Hong Kong
- Annual June 4 Tiananmen memorial gatherings in Hong Kong banned
Estrangement from U.S.