China criticises Rubio remarks on 1989 Tiananmen protests

BEIJING - Beijing hit back on June 4 at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for saying that the world will “never forget” the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, describing his remarks as an “attack” on China.

Chinese troops and tanks forcibly cleared peaceful protesters from Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, after weeks-long demonstrations demanding greater political freedoms.

The exact toll is unknown but hundreds died, with some estimates exceeding 1,000 people.

China’s communist rulers have since sought to erase any public mention of the crackdown.

In a rare return to human rights rhetoric, Mr Rubio said in a statement on June 3 the “world will never forget” what happened on June 4 even as Beijing “actively tries to censor the facts”.

“Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989,” Mr Rubio said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian hit back during a June 4 briefing in Beijing at Mr Rubio’s comments.

“The erroneous statements by the US side maliciously distort historical facts, deliberately attack China’s political system and developmental path, and seriously interfere in China’s internal affairs,” Mr Lin said.

“The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied with this and firmly opposes it,” he added.

“We have lodged a solemn protest with the US side.”

Despite a long Senate career as an outspoken advocate for human rights, Mr Rubio has been more selective as President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, focusing his rights criticism on US adversaries including China and Cuba.

Mr Rubio’s predecessors issued statements each year to mark the anniversary of the bloody crackdown.

But Mr Rubio’s statement had subtle differences – his Democratic