tiananmen square - more Flashcards
(22 cards)
Who was Fang Lizhi?
1) An academic and astrophysicist, who had been purged in the anti-Rightist campaign (1957) and the CR, before being allowed to continue his work in the 1970s.
2) He was expelled from the CCP in 1987 after arguing the need for more democracy in the 1980s.
3) Although not directly involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, he was listed for arrest but was given political asylum in the American embassy. He was allowed to leave China in 1990, continuing his work
in Britain and the USA.
What did Jonathan Fenby (historian) say about China in the 1980s?
‘China was booming and imploding at the same time, under a system that could not cope with its own growth’.
What was the cause of the Chinese student demonstrations of 1986 (2 stages)?
1) In the summer of 1986, CCP high ranking officials debated political reform. Most reformers wanted change to be limited to greater freedom of expression and supervision of officials within the Party. However, some wanted more radical changes, like a multi-party system and free elections.
2) The radical reformers initially thought they had Deng’s support, but he gave support to the conservative faction, condemning the
demands for ‘bourgeois liberalisation’. The CCP was paralysed internally, causing political reform to be postponed.
What were the Chinese student demonstrations of 1986?
With political reform postponed, = students/intellectuals took the initiative in December 1986. They protested at a university in Hefei about the lack of selection of a head of the student union. The authorities gave in to the demands, causing students in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, etc. to demonstrate and put up big character wall posters. In most cases authorities did not use excessive force, but some arrests were made.
What was the aftermath of the Chinese student demonstrations of 1986 (4)?
1) By January 1987, the movement was losing momentum, but for the conservative faction and for Deng, it had gone too far. Deng denounced the ‘turmoil’, blaming intellectuals like Fang Lizhi, making it clear any repetition would be met by force.
2) The conservative faction blamed Hu Yaobang for ‘failing to provide correct leadership’ and resisting the Party’s attempts to fight ‘spiritual pollution’.
3) In January 1987, Hu Yaobang was sacked as General Secretary and replaced by Zhao Ziyang. Fang Lizhi was also expelled from the CCP, but there was no purge of intellectuals.
4) There was a tightening of press censorship and universities were brought under stricter Party control.
What was the crisis of 1988 (3)?
1) In the preceding months before the spring of 1988, the Chinese economy faced high wage and price inflation, with falling living standards. In April, demonstrations against rising living costs took place on university campuses.
2) Student protesters in Tiananmen Square demanded action against corruption, and for progress on human
rights.
3) Within the CCP leadership there was debate over economic reform, with Deng leading calls for relaxation of price controls. Deng changed his mind and prices were frozen for 2 years.
Who was blamed for the crisis of 1988?
Zhao Ziyang, who was initially reluctant to support Deng’s policy of price decontrol, and was then left to take responsibility when things went wrong.
How did the Tiananmen Square demonstration in April 1989 start (4)?
1) In April 1989, Hu Yaobang died suddenly, with rumours saying he suffered a fatal heart attack in a heated argument with Bo Yibo. This sparked a protest movement in Beijing.
2) Large rallies of mourners, mostly students, gathered in Tiananmen Square to pay their respects to Hu Yaobang. This quickly turned into a pro-democracy rally.
3) Students from across Beijing established a Beijing Students Autonomous Federation (BSAF) to coordinate demands for reform. A Beijing Workers Autonomous Federation (BWAF) was created, supporting the BSAF.
4) Demonstrations in Tiananmen Square grew in size, with clashes with police and some injuries. Movements spread to other Chinese cities, and a student boycott of classes began in Beijing.
What was the Tiananmen Square demonstration in April 1989 (3)?
1) Deng denounced the student boycotts and protests as ‘turmoil’ led by troublemakers wanting to overthrow socialism. Deng stated ‘Don’t be afraid of students because we still have several million troops’.
2) The BSAF called for mass marches on Tiananmen Square to oppose ‘bureaucracy, corruption and special privilege’. By the end of April around 100,000 people marched on Tiananmen Square, breaking police lines.
3) Deng, realising his hard line had not worked, allowed Zhao Ziyang to meet the students and consider their demands. The revelation of a split in the Party encouraged others to join the protests, but Zhao’s offer to talk split the protesters. Some were willing to talk with the CCP leadership, whilst others wanted an increase in pressure to get more concessions. This split caused a drain in impetus from the protests.
Who was Mikhail Gorbachev?
The leader of the USSR 1985-91, overseeing a programme of economic and political reforms (e.g. Perestroika and Glasnost).
When did Gorbachev visit Beijing, and what did it signify?
Gorbachev visited China in May 1989, the first visit by a Soviet leader in over 20 years. This marked an improvement in relations between the two countries.
What was the effect of Gorbachev’s visit on the Tiananmen Square demonstrations (2)?
1) Gorbachev’s visit to China in May 1989 caused the world’s media to descend on Beijing. The prospect of capturing this attention encouraged protestors to escalate their protests, with 100s beginning a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square.
2) By the time Gorbachev had left (3 days), the protestors had taken control of the Square. Zhao Ziyang was still trying to find a peaceful solution, but the conservative faction put pressure on Deng for a military
crackdown.
What is martial law?
When the army has political and administrative control over the civilian population of an area.
When did Deng Xiaoping declare marshal law in China?
19 May 1989.
What were the key events leading to military crackdown in Beijing (20-30 May 1989) (6)?
1) 20 May 1989: Huge crowds of Beijing residents take up the streets, setting up roadblocks to stop the movement of troops. Many soldiers and factory workers show their support for the students.
2) 21 May 1989: A number of senior PLA officers write to Deng Xiaoping in protest of marshal law, stating the army ‘should under no circumstance fire on the people’.
3) 22 May 1989: PLA forces ordered to withdraw to the edge of Beijing.
4) 24 May 1989: Zhao Ziyang dismissed from the Politburo for having split the Party.
5) 29 May 1989: Many protesters in the Square are drifting away with debate about when the protest should end. A group of students begin construction on a statue of a woman holding a torch - ‘Goddess of Liberty’.
Authorities begin arresting members of the BWAF.
6) 30 May 1989: Around 300,000 visit Tiananmen Square to view the ‘Goddess of Liberty’.
What were the events of the ‘Tiananmen Square Massacre’ June 1989 (3)?
1) On 3 June 1989, the PLA began to move against demonstrators. The army attempted to occupy the square, but crowds surrounded the soldiers, preventing this. At 10:00pm, PLA units were ordered to advance on Tiananmen Square and clear it by 6:00am.
2) When hostile protesters halted the columns of tanks and armoured personnel carriers, soldiers fired on the crowds. There were several clashes on the roads leading to Tiananmen Square, with people fighting back
with rocks, petrol bombs and iron bars. There were casualties on both sides.
3) In the morning of 4 June 1989, the PLA occupied Tiananmen Square. Within an hour of the arrival of the PLA, the students had organised a peaceful withdrawal, instead of fighting.
How many died in the ‘Tiananmen Square Massacre’?
There was no massacre in Tiananmen Square itself, but 600 - 1200 died during the PLA’s advance on the Square, and in later operations to quell resistance. 1000s were injured.
What was the immediate aftermath of the PLA’s suppression of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations (June
1989) (3)?
1) In the following days there were anti-government protests in many cities, e.g. Shanghai and Chengdu.
2) Many pro-democracy activists were arrested, with official figures at 1600 (likely more). Many leaders of the pro-democracy movement, including Fang Lizhi, fled abroad or were arrested and jailed.
3) At the end of June, 35 people were publicly executed for their part in the protests.
Who was Jiang Zemin?
He became General Secretary of the CCP in 1989, and succeeded Deng as ‘paramount leader’ in 1997.
Before this, he was Mayor of Shanghai (1885-89) and a strong supporter of Deng’s reforms.
How did Deng try to regain public confidence following the ‘Tiananmen Square Massacre’ (3)?
1) He continued to renew and reinvigorate CCP leadership by promoting younger, professional and managerial men. E.g. Jiang Zemin replaced Zhao Ziyang as General Secretary.
2) He agreed to the temporary slowing down of the economic reform programme, but there was no retreat on its key features.
3) The CCP launched a new anti-corruption campaign in the summer of 1989. Hundreds of Party members were expelled, relatives banned from involvement in private business and Party officials lost some privileges. Five of China’s largest companies had to pay heavy fines for corrupt practices.
What was the effect of the ‘Tiananmen Square Massacre’ on CCP leadership (2)?
1) The conservative faction wanted to consolidate their position, and pushed for Zhao Ziyang to be prosecuted and his supporters purged. Deng launched a rectification campaign, but refused to prosecute Zhao, not wanting to split the CCP or allow the conservatives to control the agenda.
2) Factional disputes within the CCP leadership continued, and Deng, who was in his 80s and suffering from increasingly poor health, gradually withdrew from day-to-day affairs.
What changes did Deng make to the CCP leadership in 1992 (3), and why?
Deng abolished the CAC, promoted many committed reformers to the Central Committee, and removed some leading conservatives. By swinging the political balance in favour of the reformers, Deng and Jiang Zemin were able to extend and speed up the economic reforms.
