Tiananmen Massacre Case Study

In 1986, university students in China were dissatisfied with the lack of economic and political growth of China in comparison to other countries. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “In addition, although the economic advances in China had brought new prosperity to many citizens, it was accompanied by price inflation and opportunities for corruption by government officials.” To express their distaste for the current government students began protesting for individual rights and freedoms. Accessing the political and ideological threat, the Chinese Communist Party or CCP attempted to dismiss the student’s plea by deeming it “bourgeois liberalism.” The CCP also forced Hu Yaobang, who had supported democratic reforms, to resign in January 1987. Two Years later, a catalyst relit the passion of the Chinese liberals. “The catalyst for the chain of events in the spring of 1989 was the death of Hu in mid-April; Hu was transformed into a martyr for the cause of political liberalization,” states Encyclopedia Britannica. Tens of thousands of students attended Hu Yaobang’s funeral on April 22 in Tiananmen Square to protest for the “marytr’s” cause. This lasted for several weeks. Encyclopedia
Britannica says, “The initial government response was to issue stern warnings but take no action against the mounting crowds in the square.” The demonstrations received international coverage when Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev visited China in May. Due to the presence of the Gorbachev, Western reporters and journalists flocked to gather information on the preceding. “Shortly after his arrival, a demonstration in Tiananmen Square drew some one million participants and was widely broadcast overseas,” states Encyclopedia Britannica.
Motivated by their new audience the protestors continued to march and chant for three weeks. According to History.com, “On June 4, 1989, however, Chinese troops and security police stormed through Tiananmen Square, firing indiscriminately into the crowds of protesters.” This act of violence and hostility triggered a massive scene of chaos and a bloody massacre. “Reporters and Western diplomats on the scene estimated that at least 300, and perhaps thousands, of the protesters had been killed and as many as 10,000 were arrested,” says History.com.
As a result, the Tiananmen Massacre was the result of students passionately protesting for political and economic reform.
Instead of being considered and accommodated, the students were killed and imprisoned. The intolerance of the Chinese government was internationally broadcasted for the world to witness. History.com states, “The savagery of the Chinese government’s attack shocked both its allies and Cold War enemies. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared that he was saddened by the events in China.” The United States also widely denounced the actions of the Chinese Government and History.com says, “A little more than three weeks later, the U.S. Congress voted to impose economic sanctions against the People’s Republic of China in response to the brutal violation of human
rights.”