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Tiananmen Square, 3 June 1989

The day tanks moved in to crush China鈥檚 democracy movement

Several hundred civilians were shot dead on 3 June 1989, when tanks moved in to Tiananmen Square to crush China鈥檚 democracy movement. To many people, what happened in Beijing was seen as incomprehensible barbarity; to the country's government, it was seen as a necessary in order to re-establish stability. This four-part series looks to history to provide explanations for China鈥檚 actions and for its attitudes today. It also investigates the complexities of Chinese national identity and how imperial interference has affected China's view on the world.

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大象传媒 World Service Archive

This programme was restored as part of the World Service archive project