China blasts US and Taiwan statements on 37th anniversary of Tiananmen Square military crackdown

China on Thursday strongly condemned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments marking the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square military crackdown, labeling them as "smearing" the country's political system. Rubio stated that Beijing's censorship could not erase memories of the military assault and that those who sacrificed for free expression would be vindicated.

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China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to the US distorting historical facts, smearing China's political system and development path.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning asserted that the government had reached a "clear conclusion" about the "political turmoil that occurred in the late 1980s." She accused the U.S. of interfering in China's internal affairs under the "pretext" of democracy and human rights, while defending Beijing's "path of socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te also marked the anniversary, urging China to "face up to the June 4 incident of 37 years ago, acknowledge the truth, soothe the pain, and open the door to reconciliation and dialogue." He wrote on Facebook that a truly great country should not "blindly believe in military might or engage in militarism."

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I sincerely hope that China can face up to the June 4 incident of 37 years ago, acknowledge the truth, soothe the pain, and open the door to reconciliation and dialogue.

The events of June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire on student-led pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, remain a taboo subject within mainland China, with no official commemoration. Public commemorations typically occur overseas, including in Taipei, where Taiwanese leaders often use the anniversary to criticize Beijing.

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Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday.