Hong Kong crisis: China warns of Tiananmen Square response to mass protests

[freemexy]

Hong Kong crisis: China warns of Tiananmen Square response to mass protests

Demonstrators shut down Hong Kong International Airport after taking their protests into their tenth week. Though flights have now resumed, protestors have taken their fury back to the streets, with police clashes common. Today an editorial in a popular Chinese newspaper – which is run by Xi Jinping’s administration – reminded demonstrators of the similarities to the Tiananmen Square crackdown.To get more chinese world news, you can visit shine news official website.

The Global Times’ piece gave a rare reference to the incident, which is usually taboo in mainland China.

It wrote: “The incident in Hong Kong won’t be a repeat of the June 4 political incident in 1989.

“China is much stronger and more mature, and its ability to manage complex situations has been greatly enhanced.”The civil unrest began over a controversial extradition law – but weeks after Chief Executive Carrie Lam shelved the bill, protests have continued.

Fears of military intervention – and further violent clashes between protestors and the state – grew after Chinese troops were seen last night carrying out drills just four miles from the Hong Kong border.

Some fear that the crackdown could eventually reach the levels of the tragedy in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Known as the June Fourth Incident, student-led demonstrations were crushed when the government declared martial law following almost two months of protests.

Troops began firing at the demonstrators, with the death toll reportedly in the thousands.

A day later saw the famous ‘Tank Man’ incident, where a lone man defiantly stood in front of a column of tanks leaving the square.One of the organisers of the Tiananmen Square protests said yesterday that should the Hong King demonstrations escalate, a “showdown” moment will arrive with the Chinese government once again.

Wu’er Kaixi told ABC: "The central government do not want to give its people freedom.

"It's an identical part of the two events, it's the same enemy of the people that links the two demonstrations; one in Beijing 30 years ago and one in Hong Kong going on today.

"Unfortunately, the enemy that we're facing do not know any tricks when confronted by people with determination.

"30 years ago they deployed troops and I'm afraid this time they're thinking of doing the same."