Tiananmen Square: Making of a Protest

- Vijay Gokhale 

Tiananmen Square has been an important monument, site in the history of China. It has been witness to many incidents that defined China what it is today. One of such important incidents that defined the future of modern China. An incident that still attracts the attention of global media, academicians, intellectuals. The Tiananmen Square incident. Was it a massacre? Was it a genuine attempt to bring Western-style democracy to the People's Republic of China? 

India's former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale's book 'Tiananmen Square: The Making of a Protest' tries to answer many of such questions. This book recalls what led to the gathering of masses at the square, how the movement was dealt with and how China created a narrative to cover up the incident, from a former diplomat's point of view, who was posted in the Indian Embassy in Beijing when entire episode unfolded. 

The book is presented in a style that can resemble with Indian style of theatre. Where in the prologue the 'Sutradhar' sets the stage by setting the background for events to unfold. The author has elaborated on the town and areas around the ancient Forbidden City and Tiananmen square. This elaboration builds a picture of the area where the incident unfolded. 

The Initial two chapters introduce the major characters who play important parts. Deng Xiaoping took over the reins of the People's Republic of China after the demise of Chairman Mao Zedong. The Principal Player, as the title to chapter elaborating the rise of Deng to power, rightly suggests his importance in events that changed China's present and future. The economic ideas of Deng took China to what it is today. However, it has to be noted clearly that how he dealt with the Tiananmen square movement, reestablished the firm grip of CCP on the political system of China. 

The subsequent chapters introduce major leaders in the Politburo who played major parts in 'Making of the Protest.' It is very interesting to notice that it was Deng who refused to acquire the position of Chairman of CCP. Yet he was able to assert that he was the undisputed supreme leader. He initiated the process of disintegration of power. He reemphasized collective responsibility. Administrative powers were delegated to General Secretary and Premier. In the early years of Deng's reign Hu Yaobang was the General Secretary. He had to demit office due to internal party politics to secure the top post. The successor of Hu Yaobang, Zhao Yiyang also had to demit office for poor handling of the Tiananmen square movement. 

The Chapters titled 'Strong clouds on the horizon,'  and 'The lull' deal with the power struggle among Chinese leaders. The points of contention were how to proceed with economic reforms and containing 'Bourgeois liberalism.' The intraparty politics is complicated yet fascinating to read. It shows the general nature of human being hungry for power. 

While dealing the intraparty politics the author has quoted the economic ideas implemented by Deng. The Four Modernizations. The Agriculture sector reform of 'household contract responsibility' gave farmers right to retain profits. Second, Industrial policy that introduced Joint ventures with western capital and companies. In the initial years it yielded considerable economic growth. However, by 1987 the negative circumstances began to show up. Banking and Credit mismanagement, double-digit inflation led to issues at economic fronts. 

The very trigger point turned out to be the idea of electing student bodies in Chinese universities of higher studies. However, the authorities decided not to proceed with it at Chinese University of Science and Technology in Hefei. This decision provided a reason for students to protest. Professor Fang Lizhi stated that the process of modernization shall involve a change in the concept of who will lead political and economic fields. In a way, it was a call for democracy. 

The Chinese authorities acted and tried to curb liberalist thoughts from Professors and intellectuals. This led to more discontent among students. They abandoned classes and started moving to Tiananmen Square. The students and citizens started gathering in huge numbers. 

The students were led by Wu'er Kaixi, a Uighur by ethnicity, and Chai Ling. They had presented their demand from authorities. The demands were simple, better education, job opportunities, elimination of nepotism and greater responsiveness to citizens' needs by govt. The students were limited to these. The author states that the western media started to create an impression that students were seeking western-style democracy. 

When the days passed and no solution could be found from negotiations. There was no unity among student protestors. The moderate leaders of students lost control over the movement and radical elements took over. When there was no going back, on 3rd and 4th June, Deng ordered the forces to act. The author describes the events that unfolded. How rumors among protestors created chaos. Many of the protestors vacated the site. Those who stayed back bore the brunt of forces. 

The author has described the conduct of western media and the USA embassy in Beijing. The USA embassy misjudged the Chinese leadership over handling the incident. The western media wrote half- truth reports based on rumors and dried-up sources. They quoted various numbers of casualties and injured. Here, the author has not given any figure of his own. He has just quoted what western media, declassified files of the USA embassy and others. The author doesn't place any opinion. He keeps it open for readers to draw opinions about the entire incident. 

The author has quoted that a full account (prepared by the Chinese Communist Party) should be read on how CCP has crafted its narrative to suggest that it was a handful who tried to destroy the People's state. It has remained a defining narrative to date. The author quotes that the foreign media in Beijing chased the wrong story. It was not a democratic revolution that was underway. It was a power struggle, and its outcome would have a profound impact on China. 

In the last chapter, the author has dealt with the 'outcomes' of this incident. Deng laid the principles of succession that prevailed for the next thirty years. Chinese leaders carefully studied the fall of the Soviet Union and crafted the political system to intensify the grip of the party over the State. The Chinese leadership could strike balance between American capital in China and keeping American ideas of liberalism at bay. With political stability, Chinese economy grew at unprecedented rates and the standard of living improved. 

The book not just gives an account of the making of a protest but also a glimpse of how Chinese leadership works. China has emerged as a global power. It is necessary to learn about how it reached this stature. There is no doubt that Tiananmen Square has played a major part in the emergence of China. This book is a great tool to do it.