China and the US exchanged criticism over the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Taiwan urged China to confront its past. Commemorations were held outside mainland China, with a heavy police presence in Hong Kong.
On the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, China and the U.S. engaged in a verbal dispute. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the anniversary, which China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning criticized as 'smearing' the country's political system and defending Beijing's stance that a 'clear conclusion' had been reached on the 'political turmoil'. Taiwan, through its President Lai Ching-te and Foreign Ministry, urged China to confront its past, acknowledge the truth, and seek reconciliation. Public commemorations and vigils took place in cities outside mainland China, including Taipei. In Hong Kong, where large vigils were once held, a significant police presence was observed, with some individuals, including activist Chan Po-ying, being detained. The U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong lit digital candles to mark the anniversary. The crackdown itself involved Chinese troops opening fire on student-led pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.
The anniversary highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions between the US and China, and Taiwan's stance on human rights and historical accountability, underscoring the enduring international scrutiny of China's human rights record.