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Political developments- Tianmen Square - Coggle Diagram
Political developments- Tianmen Square
Causes- Deng's policies?
Democracy movement
Economic reform under Deng Xiaoping → raised expectations for political liberalisation
Students + intellectuals linked economic reform = democracy
Democracy Wall (1978): Public space for criticism + debate- use of big character posters
Wei Jingsheng: Called for 'Fifth modernisations'- demoncracy
Movement initially tolerated → suggests limits unclear in early reform era
CCP response
Wei arrested (1979) → 15-year sentence
Democracy Wall shut down / relocated
“Four Big Rights” revoked: Speech, debate, posters removed
~100,000 detained or sent for re-education
Shows:→ CCP supports economic reform ONLY→ Political opposition not tolerated
Emerging problems
Economic issues
Inflation rising (especially 1988)
Panic buying + falling living standards
Inequality increases (some “get rich first”)
Corruption
Major scandals (e.g. Hainan)
Officials seen as abusing power
Little punishment → public anger
3. Intellectual & student unrest
Influenced by: Fang Lizhi- human rights + democracy
Growth of: Political debate clubs, criticism of CCP- demands for democracy + fairness
Job allocation system (lack of freedom)
Influence of new ideas- Richard Nixon (anti-communist strategy)
New groups
Growth of: Migrants (millions, exploited, no rights), + urban workers faced instability
Private traders seen as corrupt/unfair
Events
Build up
Mass protests
Tiananmen Square becomes centre of demonstrations
“Beijing Spring”: Up to 50,000 protesters
Methods: Hunger strikes, marches, appeals for dialogue
Inspired by: May fourth movement in 1919- historical continuity
Expansion of movement: workers + wider public join
Spreads to major cities of Shanghai
Trigger: Death of Hu Yaobang (April 1989- general secretary of CCP)→ seen as symbol of reform
CCP division
Leadership split between Zhao Ziyang → dialogue + Li Peng + hardliners → repression
Gorbachev visit in May 1989- international attention- embrassment - Global media focused on protests, not diplomacy
17 May: Meeting at Deng house Martial law declared
Zhao removed as visits student- says 'we came too late' - removed from power + house arrest
Demands
Clear Hu Yaobang’s name
End campaigns against “bourgeois liberalisation”
Freedom of speech + press
Publish officials’ wealth (anti-corruption)
More funding for education + better pay
Right to protest
👉 Petition accepted by officials → initial student confidence
1988: petitions demanding: Democracy + end to corruption
Consequences
Deng Speech 9 June 1989
Praises army as “heroes”
No apology for civilians
Calls protesters:→ enemies showing “cruelty”
BUT: Also suggests crackdown was badly handed
Decision
Martial Law- May 20
Bans: Protests, strikes, demonstrations
Media censorship introduced
Army authorised to use force
Some military leaders initially: Refuse to act, say army shouldn't attack people
Deng labels movement as 'anti party, anti-socialist turmoil
Tianamen square massacre June 4
Army sent into Beijing
Troops opened fire on civilians- majority of victims not protesters
Death toll: Unkknown- hundreds to thousands
Square cleared by force
Immediate Impact:
Arrests of: Student Leaders (Wang Dan) + Intellectuals e.g Fang Lizhi fled
Many imprisoned or sent to labour camps (laogai)