Pompeo: China cannot erase memories of Tiananmen Square crackdown

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that Beijing's censorship efforts are futile in erasing the memory of the 1989 military crackdown on Tiananmen Square demonstrators. His statement, issued ahead of the anniversary of the violent suppression, largely echoed his previous remarks on the event.

Pompeo's comments are likely to offer reassurance to Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, particularly as President Donald Trump has frequently emphasized his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Human rights organizations report that Chinese troops opened fire on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths.

"On June 4, the world marks 37 years since the Chinese Communist Party ordered its troops to attack thousands of peaceful demonstrators in and around Tiananmen Square," Pompeo stated. "No amount of censorship can erase the past. Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday."

China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In China, any discussion of the Tiananmen Square crackdown is heavily censored and considered taboo. The Chinese government has historically blamed the unrest on counter-revolutionaries and has never released a full death toll. Restrictions in Hong Kong have stifled once-large vigils, leaving cities like London, New York, Berlin, and Taipei to commemorate the June 4 anniversary. U.S. lawmakers are also planning to mark the date with remarks, hearings, and press conferences.

The U.S. and China are currently navigating a period of standoff amid their tense global economic and military rivalry, following Trump's trip to Beijing where he and Xi maintained a fragile trade truce. Despite Trump's public praise for Xi, his administration includes figures like Pompeo, who has maintained hardline views toward China.

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On June 4, the world marks 37 years since the Chinese Communist Party ordered its troops to attack thousands of peaceful demonstrators in and around Tiananmen Square. No amount of censorship can erase the past. Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday.