This document summarizes the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, China on June 4th, 1989 when Chinese military cracked down on student protesters, killing hundreds or thousands. It provides context of the months-long protests in 1989 centered around a desire for freedom and democracy. On the anniversary in 2009, there were increased security measures in Beijing while commemorations were held in Hong Kong with candlelight vigils attended by tens of thousands.
The document discusses the secret journals of Zhao Ziyang, the former Chinese Premier who was imprisoned after the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. The journals contain Zhao's personal accounts and reflections on the tragic events in Beijing, including his views that the student movement was not truly counter-revolutionary as portrayed by the government. The release of Zhao's journals provides a rare glimpse into one of the most pivotal events in China's recent history from the perspective of a key decision-maker.
