President Xi Jinping recently revived a sensitive chapter of China's modern history. In a speech on Monday (Aug 17), Xi described the Communist Party's response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests as “correct”. Commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, Xi praised Jiang's role in maintaining stability during the political turmoil of 1989. Xi called for an “indomitable fighting spirit” to face future challenges, urging the Party to defend China's sovereignty, security and development interests. His remarks again drew attention to one of the most enduring mysteries from the Tiananmen crackdown: The Tank Man.<h2>Who is the Tank Man?</h2>On 5 June 1989, one day after the army crackdown on pro-democracy and pro-reform protests, a man in a white shirt and black pants stood in front of a column of People's Liberation Army (PLA) tanks on Chang'an Avenue near Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Photographers and videographers captured the extraordinary scene of the man, holding what appeared to be shopping bags in his hands, moving left and right to stop the tanks from moving forward. The footage was aired globally. The lead tank stopped and tried to move around the man, but he repeatedly stepped into its path. At one point, he climbed onto the tank. He appeared to speak to those inside. He was later pulled away by people nearby.The identity of Tank Man remains unknown, but several names have been linked to the lone protestor over the years, including Zhang Weimin and Wang Weilin.<h2>What happened to the Tank Man?</h2>Some reports have suggested that the Tank Man was arrested, while others claimed he may have been executed. Another theory is that civilians helped him escape. There have also been claims that he survived and lived quietly in China, while some have speculated that he eventually fled the country. None of the claims about his whereabouts has been fully confirmed.During interviews in 1990 and 2000, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin offered a rare comment on the man's fate, saying he believed the Tank Man was “never killed” and “never arrested”.“I don't know where he is now,” Jiang said in one of the interviews.Claims about his later life, including suggestions that he became an archaeologist in Taiwan, have also circulated over the years, though none has been reliably established.The Chinese government does not publicly discuss Tank Man. The famous image is also heavily censored inside China. The mystery is tied to the wider silence surrounding the 1989 crackdown.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiananmen-square-massacre-how-china-crushed-dissent-728448/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiananmen-square-massacre-how-china-crushed-dissent-728448/embed</a><h2>The Tiananmen Square protests. What really happened in 1989?</h2>It is not clear why Xi suddenly recalled the Tiananmen protests. But the events remain etched in Chinese memory.The protests began in April 1989 after the death of reformist former Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. Students gathered in Tiananmen Square and demanded political reform, greater freedom of speech and an end to corruption. There was hope, as it was an era near the end of the Cold War. Many Chinese workers and citizens joined the student protesters, and the movement grew into a mass protest.Martial law was declared in May. On the night of 3-4 June, troops moved into Beijing. The PLA used live ammunition, tanks and military force to clear the area.Hundreds died in the crackdown, though exact numbers remain disputed. Chinese authorities put the number at around 200 to 300, including civilians and security personnel. Other estimates range from hundreds to several thousand deaths. Many others were injured or arrested.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-happened-at-tiananmen-square-and-why-is-china-tightening-controls-against-activists-ahead-of-anniversary-1780320488855">What happened at Tiananmen Square and why is China tightening controls against activists ahead of anniversary?</a><h2>Tiananmen, a defining moment for the Chinese Communist Party</h2>The official Party position is that the crackdown was necessary to protect political stability and the socialist system of China. Xi's latest remarks reaffirm that position. The Party's focus remains on stability and control.Xi's message is that the Party must be ready to confront future “storms”, as China faces economic, demographic and geopolitical challenges.Yet for many in the world, it is not the Party line or Xi's remarks that will be the defining image of the Tiananmen protests.It will be the photos and videos of one man standing before tanks.Nearly four decades later, the world still does not know his name, his fate or his current location.But the memory of Tank Man lives on.

Xi Jinping's defence of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown has revived the mystery of Tank Man. Nearly four decades after his iconic stand before PLA tanks, what do we know about the lone protestor?

President Xi Jinping recently revived a sensitive chapter of China's modern history. In a speech on Monday (Aug 17), Xi described the Communist Party's response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests as “correct”. Commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, Xi praised Jiang's role in maintaining stability during the political turmoil of 1989. Xi called for an “indomitable fighting spirit” to face future challenges, urging the Party to defend China's sovereignty, security and development interests. His remarks again drew attention to one of the most enduring mysteries from the Tiananmen crackdown: The Tank Man. Who is the Tank Man? On 5 June 1989, one day after the army crackdown on pro-democracy and pro-reform protests, a man in a white shirt and black pants stood in front of a column of People's Liberation Army (PLA) tanks on Chang'an Avenue near Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Photographers and videographers captured the extraordinary scene of the man, holding what appeared to be shopping bags in his hands, moving left and right to stop the tanks from moving forward. The footage was aired globally. The lead tank stopped and tried to move around the man, but he repeatedly stepped into its path. At one point, he climbed onto the tank. He appeared to speak to those inside. He was later pulled away by people nearby. The identity of Tank Man remains unknown, but several names have been linked to the lone protestor over the years, including Zhang Weimin and Wang Weilin. What happened to the Tank Man? Some reports have suggested that the Tank Man was arrested, while others claimed he may have been executed. Another theory is that civilians helped him escape. There have also been claims that he survived and lived quietly in China, while some have speculated that he eventually fled the country. None of the claims about his whereabouts has been fully confirmed. During interviews in 1990 and 2000, former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin offered a rare comment on the man's fate, saying he believed the Tank Man was “never killed” and “never arrested”. “I don't know where he is now,” Jiang said in one of the interviews. Claims about his later life, including suggestions that he became an archaeologist in Taiwan, have also circulated over the years, though none has been reliably established. The Chinese government does not publicly discuss Tank Man. The famous image is also heavily censored inside China. The mystery is tied to the wider silence surrounding the 1989 crackdown. https://www.wionews.com/videos/tiananmen-square-massacre-how-china-crushed-dissent-728448/embed The Tiananmen Square protests. What really happened in 1989? It is not clear why Xi suddenly recalled the Tiananmen protests. But the events remain etched in Chinese memory. The protests began in April 1989 after the death of reformist former Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. Students gathered in Tiananmen Square and demanded political reform, greater freedom of speech and an end to corruption. There was hope, as it was an era near the end of the Cold War. Many Chinese workers and citizens joined the student protesters, and the movement grew into a mass protest. Martial law was declared in May. On the night of 3-4 June, troops moved into Beijing. The PLA used live ammunition, tanks and military force to clear the area. Hundreds died in the crackdown, though exact numbers remain disputed. Chinese authorities put the number at around 200 to 300, including civilians and security personnel. Other estimates range from hundreds to several thousand deaths. Many others were injured or arrested. Also read: What happened at Tiananmen Square and why is China tightening controls against activists ahead of anniversary? Tiananmen, a defining moment for the Chinese Communist Party The official Party position is that the crackdown was necessary to protect political stability and the socialist system of China. Xi's latest remarks reaffirm that position. The Party's focus remains on stability and control. Xi's message is that the Party must be ready to confront future “storms”, as China faces economic, demographic and geopolitical challenges. Yet for many in the world, it is not the Party line or Xi's remarks that will be the defining image of the Tiananmen protests. It will be the photos and videos of one man standing before tanks. Nearly four decades later, the world still does not know his name, his fate or his current location. But the memory of Tank Man lives on.

Xi Jinping's defence of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown has revived the mystery of Tank Man. Nearly four decades after his iconic stand before PLA tanks, what do we know about the lone protestor?

Where is Tank Man? Mystery of lone protestor lives on as Xi Jinping defends Tiananmen crackdown of 1989

Remembering the 'tank man' on 33rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre

Anonymous, a decentralised worldwide hacktivist organisation, uploaded the second phase of its defacement of a Chinese government tourism marketing website early on Friday (October 1), including Taiwan's national emblem, "Tank Man," and Winnie the Pooh.

Reddit user "Allez-opi omi" posted links to 10 pages Anonymous made on a website for the China Cultural Center on Thursday (September 30).

The Anonymous spokesperson uploaded "Round 2" with eight more links to information thrown into the Chinese government site at 12:01 am on Friday.

Activists known as Anonymous have vandalised websites all around the world.

They support political issues such as opposing the global crackdown on file-sharing websites and defending the secret-leaking website WikiLeaks.

The hackers express their displeasure with the Chinese government's Internet limitations in a note posted on one of the hacked Chinese sites.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Anonymous, a decentralised worldwide hacktivist organisation, uploaded the second phase of its defacement of a Chinese government tourism marketing website early on Friday (October 1), including Taiwan's national emblem, "Tank Man," and Winnie the Pooh.

Anonymous, a decentralised worldwide hacktivist organisation, uploaded the second phase of its defacement of a Chinese government tourism marketing website early on Friday (October 1), including Taiwan's national emblem, "Tank Man," and Winnie the Pooh. Reddit user "Allez-opi omi" posted links to 10 pages Anonymous made on a website for the China Cultural Center on Thursday (September 30). The Anonymous spokesperson uploaded "Round 2" with eight more links to information thrown into the Chinese government site at 12:01 am on Friday. Activists known as Anonymous have vandalised websites all around the world. They support political issues such as opposing the global crackdown on file-sharing websites and defending the secret-leaking website WikiLeaks. The hackers express their displeasure with the Chinese government's Internet limitations in a note posted on one of the hacked Chinese sites. (With inputs from agencies)

Hacktivism: China site shows Taiwan emblem, 'Tank Man'

Microsoft&nbsp;Corp on Friday blamed "accidental human error" for its Bing search engine not showing image results for the query "tank man" in the United States and elsewhere after users raised concerns about possible censorship around the Tiananmen Square crackdown anniversary.

Users, including those in the United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore, reported Friday that when they performed the search Bing returned the message, "There are no results for tank man."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/famed-tank-man-photo-vanishes-from-bing-search-engine-389574">Famed 'Tank Man' photo vanishes from Bing search engine</a>

David Greene, civil liberties director at the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that content moderation was impossible to do perfectly and "egregious mistakes are made all the time."

But he said it could be more sinister: "At worst, this was purposeful suppression at the request of a powerful state."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiananmen-square-massacre-what-really-happened-in-1989-389384">Tiananmen Square Massacre: What really happened in 1989?</a>

Hours after&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;acknowledged the issue, the "tank man" search returned only pictures of tanks elsewhere in the world.

"Tank man" is often used to describe an unidentified person famously pictured standing before tanks in China's Tiananmen Square during pro-democracy demonstrations in June 1989.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tianamen-tank-man-cameraman-charlie-cole-passes-away-249653/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Microsoft&nbsp;said the issue was "due to an accidental human error and we are actively working to resolve this."

Smaller search engines such as DuckDuckGo that license results from&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;faced similar issues around "tank man" searches and said they expected a fix soon.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/timeline-32-years-of-chinas-brutal-tiananmen-crackdown-389474">Timeline: 32 years of China's brutal Tiananmen crackdown</a>

Rival Google showed many results for the famous image when the "tank man" search was performed on Friday.

A significant percentage of the&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;employees who work on Bing are based in China, including some who work on image-recognition software, according to a former employee.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-officials-ramp-up-security-ahead-of-tiananmen-square-anniversary-389234">Hong Kong officials ramp up security ahead of Tiananmen Square anniversary</a>

China is known to require search engines operating in its jurisdiction to censor results, but those restrictions are rarely applied elsewhere.

Microsoft Corp on Friday blamed "accidental human error" for its Bing search engine not showing image results for the query "tank man" in the United States and elsewhere after users raised concerns about possible censorship around the Tiananmen Square crackdown anniversary.

Microsoft Corp on Friday blamed "accidental human error" for its Bing search engine not showing image results for the query "tank man" in the United States and elsewhere after users raised concerns about possible censorship around the Tiananmen Square crackdown anniversary. Users, including those in the United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore, reported Friday that when they performed the search Bing returned the message, "There are no results for tank man." Also Read | Famed 'Tank Man' photo vanishes from Bing search engine David Greene, civil liberties director at the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that content moderation was impossible to do perfectly and "egregious mistakes are made all the time." But he said it could be more sinister: "At worst, this was purposeful suppression at the request of a powerful state." Also Read | Tiananmen Square Massacre: What really happened in 1989? Hours after Microsoft acknowledged the issue, the "tank man" search returned only pictures of tanks elsewhere in the world. "Tank man" is often used to describe an unidentified person famously pictured standing before tanks in China's Tiananmen Square during pro-democracy demonstrations in June 1989. Microsoft said the issue was "due to an accidental human error and we are actively working to resolve this." Smaller search engines such as DuckDuckGo that license results from Microsoft faced similar issues around "tank man" searches and said they expected a fix soon. Also Read | Timeline: 32 years of China's brutal Tiananmen crackdown Rival Google showed many results for the famous image when the "tank man" search was performed on Friday. A significant percentage of the Microsoft employees who work on Bing are based in China, including some who work on image-recognition software, according to a former employee. Also Read | Hong Kong officials ramp up security ahead of Tiananmen Square anniversary China is known to require search engines operating in its jurisdiction to censor results, but those restrictions are rarely applied elsewhere.

Microsoft says error led to no matching Bing images for Tiananmen 'tank man'

Searches for the famous Tiananmen Square 'Tank Man' protest photo came up empty on Microsoft search engine Bing on Friday, raising censorship concerns on the anniversary of the deadly crackdown. &nbsp;

The award-winning&nbsp;photo&nbsp;from&nbsp;1989 was not served up in image or video searches using&nbsp;Bing&nbsp;even outside China, a country known for strictly controlling what is available online.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiananmen-square-massacre-what-really-happened-in-1989-389384">Tiananmen Square Massacre: What really happened in 1989?</a>

"This is due to an accidental human error and we are actively working to resolve this," a Microsoft spokesman said in response to an AFP inquiry prompted by US press reports.

Meanwhile, searches for&nbsp;Tank&nbsp;Man&nbsp;using Google, which has some 92 per cent of the global market for online queries according to Statcounter, turned up an assortment of pictures along with the iconic one by photographer Charlie Cole and others.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/timeline-32-years-of-chinas-brutal-tiananmen-crackdown-389474">Timeline: 32 years of China's brutal Tiananmen crackdown</a>

Google&nbsp;search&nbsp;is not offered in China, where censors have purged&nbsp;Tank&nbsp;Man&nbsp;from&nbsp;the internet. Baidu is the dominant&nbsp;search&nbsp;engine&nbsp;in China.

The&nbsp;Tank&nbsp;Man&nbsp;photo&nbsp;shows a lone protester in a white shirt blocking the path of a column of tanks in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-officials-ramp-up-security-ahead-of-tiananmen-square-anniversary-389234">Hong Kong officials ramp up security ahead of Tiananmen Square anniversary</a>

Friday marked the anniversary of Chinese troops crushing peaceful democracy protests in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

Hundreds were killed in the crackdown, by some estimates more than 1,000.

In mainland China, the Tiananmen anniversary is usually marked by an increase in online censorship and the square in Beijing placed under tight security.

Searches for the famous Tiananmen Square 'Tank Man' protest photo came up empty on Microsoft search engine Bing on Friday, raising censorship concerns on the anniversary of the deadly crackdown.

Searches for the famous Tiananmen Square 'Tank Man' protest photo came up empty on Microsoft search engine Bing on Friday, raising censorship concerns on the anniversary of the deadly crackdown. The award-winning photo from 1989 was not served up in image or video searches using Bing even outside China, a country known for strictly controlling what is available online. Also Read | Tiananmen Square Massacre: What really happened in 1989? "This is due to an accidental human error and we are actively working to resolve this," a Microsoft spokesman said in response to an AFP inquiry prompted by US press reports. Meanwhile, searches for Tank Man using Google, which has some 92 per cent of the global market for online queries according to Statcounter, turned up an assortment of pictures along with the iconic one by photographer Charlie Cole and others. Also Read | Timeline: 32 years of China's brutal Tiananmen crackdown Google search is not offered in China, where censors have purged Tank Man from the internet. Baidu is the dominant search engine in China. The Tank Man photo shows a lone protester in a white shirt blocking the path of a column of tanks in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989. Also Read | Hong Kong officials ramp up security ahead of Tiananmen Square anniversary Friday marked the anniversary of Chinese troops crushing peaceful democracy protests in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. Hundreds were killed in the crackdown, by some estimates more than 1,000. In mainland China, the Tiananmen anniversary is usually marked by an increase in online censorship and the square in Beijing placed under tight security.

Famed 'Tank Man' photo vanishes from Bing search engine

The photographer who snapped the defining image of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown a solitary man defiantly blocking the path of a column of tanks has died in Indonesia, according to US officials.

American authorities confirmed the death of 64-year-old Charlie Cole in Bali, where the Texan had been a long-time resident.

"We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss," a state department official told AFP.

Cole won the 1990 World Press Photo award for his picture of a man in a white shirt, carrying a shopping bag in each hand, striding out into the road the day after troops killed hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in the heart of Beijing.

The man, whose identity remains unknown, stopped in front of a column of tanks and armoured vehicles stretching far down the road, later climbing onto the vehicle to engage in a conversation with one of the tank crew as gunshots crackled in the air.

"Tank Man" has become one of the defining images of the 20th century, but the image remains largely unrecognized in China due to censorship of the image and the wider crackdown.

His mystique has been reinforced by his subsequent disappearance, probably at the hands of Chinese security forces.

Several photographers captured Tank Man's lone figure on film that day. A picture of the scene by Jeff Widener of the Associated Press, snapped from the balcony of the Beijing Hotel, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

The photographer who snapped the defining image of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown a solitary man defiantly blocking the path of a column of tanks has died in Indonesia, according to US officials.

The photographer who snapped the defining image of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown a solitary man defiantly blocking the path of a column of tanks has died in Indonesia, according to US officials. American authorities confirmed the death of 64-year-old Charlie Cole in Bali, where the Texan had been a long-time resident. "We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss," a state department official told AFP. Cole won the 1990 World Press Photo award for his picture of a man in a white shirt, carrying a shopping bag in each hand, striding out into the road the day after troops killed hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in the heart of Beijing. The man, whose identity remains unknown, stopped in front of a column of tanks and armoured vehicles stretching far down the road, later climbing onto the vehicle to engage in a conversation with one of the tank crew as gunshots crackled in the air. "Tank Man" has become one of the defining images of the 20th century, but the image remains largely unrecognized in China due to censorship of the image and the wider crackdown. His mystique has been reinforced by his subsequent disappearance, probably at the hands of Chinese security forces. Several photographers captured Tank Man's lone figure on film that day. A picture of the scene by Jeff Widener of the Associated Press, snapped from the balcony of the Beijing Hotel, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Tiananmen Square 'Tank Man' photographer dies

Yang&nbsp;Jianli&nbsp;is a Harvard fellow and president of the Washington-based&nbsp;Initiatives for China.&nbsp;Yang, who is a Chinese citizen with permanent resident status in the United States, was part of the 1989 pro-democracy Tiananmen Square protests. The protests were student-led, but had massive support from citizens. The protesters occupied Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing for seven weeks until the government ordered a military crackdown on June 4.&nbsp;Martial law had been imposed earlier. Tanks and soldiers armed with assault rifles marched on the protesters. When the protesters tried to stop their advance, the soldiers opened fire. Estimates vary, but between hundreds and thousands of people were killed in what came to be known as the Tiananmen Square massacre.&nbsp;Yang tells&nbsp;Ramesh Ramachandran&nbsp;that a repeat of 1989&nbsp;is probable should public disenchantment with the Chinese government&#39;s policies grow.&nbsp;Edited excerpts from an interview:&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
((use photo of Tiananmen Square massacre victims here; Getty has good photos))&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

What is your take on contemporary India&ndash;China relations? Does India&#39;s China policy satisfy you?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I can&#39;t say I am very happy with it, but I understand the concerns of the Indian government about its territorial dispute with China&nbsp;and the threat of terrorism from Pakistan, which has a good relationship with China. India is a large democracy and a&nbsp;neighbour&nbsp;of China. I wish and hope that India will take a more proactive role in propagating the ideas of universal values such as democracy to China and also be more forthcoming in supporting us when it comes to visas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

What is your position on Tibet?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Historically and contemporarily the situation in Tibet is very complex. Three principles guide us to work with Tibet:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

* First, respect for the Tibetans&#39; right to self-determination and that the future of Tibet should be decided by the Tibetans themselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

* Second, we should be united to change China.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

* Third, we should achieve our goal with non-violence.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Arab Spring happened in 2011. Similarly, we have seen people&#39;s movements in Hong Kong (the Umbrella Movement) and Taiwan (the Sunflower Student Movement) in 2014. You&nbsp;participated in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Do you think a Chinese Spring is probable?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

It is, of course, probable. Ever since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the collapse of the erstwhile USSR, it has never been far from the Chinese leaders&#39; minds. They have learnt from the experiences of dictators, be they Right wing or Left wing, to prevent people from coming together, to control society. With such high degree of control in China, people may not be able to do much, but I don&#39;t think they will continue this way for very long. Social unrest, people&#39;s resentment against the government, sickening pollution, glaring corruption, public disgust with information control, blatantly unjust detentions... all these things I think will get people to try to do something, to demand change. Eventually I don&#39;t think the Chinese government will be able to control such a society forever.&nbsp;So&nbsp;(a repeat of)&nbsp;1989 is very possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Did the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 add to your disillusionment with the government of the day?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I was already disenchanted with the regime and the Communist party before the students&#39; movement broke out in the spring of 1989.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/0lGyZpbA_tY&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;

How do you view the intersection of the foreign policies of India and the US vis-a-vis China?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indian government is leaning towards the US more than before. It is a good sign. The US is reflecting on its decades-old China policy. China might be the second largest economy in the world, but in terms of democracy it remains at the bottom. The US thought trade with China will bring about prosperity and democracy, but it did not happen. What went wrong? Decades of economic prosperity saw the Chinese middle class join the ruling elite class, but the economic and political elites are beginning to turn their back on President Xi Jinping. I think in five or 10 years China must have some big opportunity to change and I really hope that India, the US, and other democracies will not lose the opportunity to help the Chinese people to change China. When China becomes democratic, its government will become more responsible, more predictable. Therefore in terms of security a lot of countries such as India, the US, Japan, and the Philippines will become better off for sure.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>?Social unrest, people&#39;s resentment against the government, sickening pollution, glaring corruption, public disgust with information control, blatantly unjust detentions... all these things I think will get people to try to do something, to demand change. Eventually I don&#39;t think the Chinese Government will be able to control such a society for ever, not for a long time. So 1989 is very possible.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a against="" class="twitter popup" government="" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=?Social unrest, people" resentment="" s="" the="">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

How are contemporary domestic politics affecting the power dynamic in China?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A personality cult around President Xi has met with strong resistance within the party. His days will not be so easy. Four factors need to be present at the same time for real change in China:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

* A&nbsp;general dissatisfaction with the government&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

* A&nbsp;viable democratic opposition&nbsp;which is not yet there&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

* A&nbsp;power struggle or cracks within the leadership (cracks will not be meaningful until some factions have different political views from others),&nbsp;and&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

* International recognition and support for the movement for change when it happens&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

We had almost achieved a revolution in 1989,&nbsp;but the international community did not&nbsp;recognise&nbsp;or intervene or give support to it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

How do you see the US-China relationship evolving under the next US President?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Republican or Democrat, the US can be expected to have a different foreign policy towards China. Whoever wins, the US will take a stronger position on security, trade and human rights.&nbsp;Compartmentalisation&nbsp;of policies did not work in the interest of the US. There is a need for an integrated approach.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In April&nbsp;you&nbsp;organised&nbsp;the&nbsp;InterEthnic&nbsp;InterFaith&nbsp;Leadership Conference at&nbsp;McLeodganj,&nbsp;India &ndash; the home of the Dalai Lama&nbsp;--&nbsp;to which members of China&#39;s ethnic and religious minorities were invited. A few days before the conference, the visas of a few participants&nbsp;whom China sees as separatists&nbsp;were revoked. It is thought India cancelled the visas under Chinese pressure.&nbsp;How do you view India&#39;s refusal or cancellation of visas to people like&nbsp;Dolkun&nbsp;Isa, chairman of the executive committee of the World Uyghur Congress?&nbsp;

I am disappointed, but I understand that India is trying to find a balance between Chinese pressure and hosting the conference. One can&#39;t overlook the fact that India allowed the conference to be held without any incident. The criticism that the Modi government is weak is not fair. Policy-makers and the Modi government understand that advancing human rights and democracy in China is in the national interest of India.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

China calls&nbsp;Dolkun&nbsp;Isa a terrorist.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dolkun&nbsp;Isa is a peaceful person. He is not a terrorist. He is a citizen of Germany, which is a strong democracy. He travels freely to many countries, including the US. Any country can send a list (of persons it designates as terrorists) to Interpol but it does not mean that every country should accept it. India reacted to pressure from China which is understandable,&nbsp;but perhaps it overreacted. However, in the end, India allowed us to hold the conference which is very positive. We don&#39;t accept violence in any form. Some Uyghurs may have engaged in some kind of violent attacks, but those Uyghurs we work with are peaceful. We try to engage with some young people who have not abandoned violence. For example, some student leaders from Hong Kong were invited to the conference and spoken to about the principles of non-violence.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

1989 may repeat if disenchantment with government policies grows in China, feels?Yang Jianli, president of Initiatives for China. Yang was a part of the pro-democracy protests and now lives in the US. He spoke to Ramesh Ramachandran.

Yang Jianli is a Harvard fellow and president of the Washington-based Initiatives for China. Yang, who is a Chinese citizen with permanent resident status in the United States, was part of the 1989 pro-democracy Tiananmen Square protests. The protests were student-led, but had massive support from citizens. The protesters occupied Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing for seven weeks until the government ordered a military crackdown on June 4. Martial law had been imposed earlier. Tanks and soldiers armed with assault rifles marched on the protesters. When the protesters tried to stop their advance, the soldiers opened fire. Estimates vary, but between hundreds and thousands of people were killed in what came to be known as the Tiananmen Square massacre. Yang tells Ramesh Ramachandran that a repeat of 1989 is probable should public disenchantment with the Chinese government's policies grow. Edited excerpts from an interview: ((use photo of Tiananmen Square massacre victims here; Getty has good photos)) What is your take on contemporary India–China relations? Does India's China policy satisfy you? I can't say I am very happy with it, but I understand the concerns of the Indian government about its territorial dispute with China and the threat of terrorism from Pakistan, which has a good relationship with China. India is a large democracy and a neighbour of China. I wish and hope that India will take a more proactive role in propagating the ideas of universal values such as democracy to China and also be more forthcoming in supporting us when it comes to visas. What is your position on Tibet? Historically and contemporarily the situation in Tibet is very complex. Three principles guide us to work with Tibet: * First, respect for the Tibetans' right to self-determination and that the future of Tibet should be decided by the Tibetans themselves. * Second, we should be united to change China. * Third, we should achieve our goal with non-violence. The Arab Spring happened in 2011. Similarly, we have seen people's movements in Hong Kong (the Umbrella Movement) and Taiwan (the Sunflower Student Movement) in 2014. You participated in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Do you think a Chinese Spring is probable? It is, of course, probable. Ever since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the collapse of the erstwhile USSR, it has never been far from the Chinese leaders' minds. They have learnt from the experiences of dictators, be they Right wing or Left wing, to prevent people from coming together, to control society. With such high degree of control in China, people may not be able to do much, but I don't think they will continue this way for very long. Social unrest, people's resentment against the government, sickening pollution, glaring corruption, public disgust with information control, blatantly unjust detentions... all these things I think will get people to try to do something, to demand change. Eventually I don't think the Chinese government will be able to control such a society forever. So (a repeat of) 1989 is very possible. Did the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 add to your disillusionment with the government of the day? I was already disenchanted with the regime and the Communist party before the students' movement broke out in the spring of 1989. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0lGyZpbA_tY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> How do you view the intersection of the foreign policies of India and the US vis-a-vis China? The Indian government is leaning towards the US more than before. It is a good sign. The US is reflecting on its decades-old China policy. China might be the second largest economy in the world, but in terms of democracy it remains at the bottom. The US thought trade with China will bring about prosperity and democracy, but it did not happen. What went wrong? Decades of economic prosperity saw the Chinese middle class join the ruling elite class, but the economic and political elites are beginning to turn their back on President Xi Jinping. I think in five or 10 years China must have some big opportunity to change and I really hope that India, the US, and other democracies will not lose the opportunity to help the Chinese people to change China. When China becomes democratic, its government will become more responsible, more predictable. Therefore in terms of security a lot of countries such as India, the US, Japan, and the Philippines will become better off for sure. ?Social unrest, people's resentment against the government, sickening pollution, glaring corruption, public disgust with information control, blatantly unjust detentions... all these things I think will get people to try to do something, to demand change. Eventually I don't think the Chinese Government will be able to control such a society for ever, not for a long time. So 1989 is very possible. How are contemporary domestic politics affecting the power dynamic in China? A personality cult around President Xi has met with strong resistance within the party. His days will not be so easy. Four factors need to be present at the same time for real change in China: * A general dissatisfaction with the government * A viable democratic opposition which is not yet there * A power struggle or cracks within the leadership (cracks will not be meaningful until some factions have different political views from others), and * International recognition and support for the movement for change when it happens We had almost achieved a revolution in 1989, but the international community did not recognise or intervene or give support to it. How do you see the US-China relationship evolving under the next US President? Republican or Democrat, the US can be expected to have a different foreign policy towards China. Whoever wins, the US will take a stronger position on security, trade and human rights. Compartmentalisation of policies did not work in the interest of the US. There is a need for an integrated approach. In April you organised the InterEthnic InterFaith Leadership Conference at McLeodganj, India – the home of the Dalai Lama -- to which members of China's ethnic and religious minorities were invited. A few days before the conference, the visas of a few participants whom China sees as separatists were revoked. It is thought India cancelled the visas under Chinese pressure. How do you view India's refusal or cancellation of visas to people like Dolkun Isa, chairman of the executive committee of the World Uyghur Congress? I am disappointed, but I understand that India is trying to find a balance between Chinese pressure and hosting the conference. One can't overlook the fact that India allowed the conference to be held without any incident. The criticism that the Modi government is weak is not fair. Policy-makers and the Modi government understand that advancing human rights and democracy in China is in the national interest of India. China calls Dolkun Isa a terrorist. Dolkun Isa is a peaceful person. He is not a terrorist. He is a citizen of Germany, which is a strong democracy. He travels freely to many countries, including the US. Any country can send a list (of persons it designates as terrorists) to Interpol but it does not mean that every country should accept it. India reacted to pressure from China which is understandable, but perhaps it overreacted. However, in the end, India allowed us to hold the conference which is very positive. We don't accept violence in any form. Some Uyghurs may have engaged in some kind of violent attacks, but those Uyghurs we work with are peaceful. We try to engage with some young people who have not abandoned violence. For example, some student leaders from Hong Kong were invited to the conference and spoken to about the principles of non-violence.

Tiananmen Square-like protests may repeat if things don?t change, says Chinese dissident Yang Jianli

tank-man

Tank Man, News on Tank Man, stories on Tank Man, articles on Tank Man, Tank Man stories at Wion, Tank Man news, Tank Man latest news