Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ripped into China last night in a series of tweets on the 30-year anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre:

We honor the heroes of the Chinese people who bravely stood up 30 years ago in #Tiananmen Square to demand their rights. Those events still stir our conscience, and the conscience of freedom-loving people around the world. https://t.co/Rn4FMmFxPL #Tiananmen30 — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) June 3, 2019

Today, we call on China to release all those held for seeking to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, to halt the use of arbitrary detention, and to reverse counterproductive policies that conflate terrorism with religious and political expression. #Tiananmen30 — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) June 3, 2019

And he’s urging the Chinese government to finally “make a full, public accounting of those killed or missing”:

We urge the Chinese government to make a full, public accounting of those killed or missing to give comfort to the many victims of this dark chapter of history. Such a step would begin to demonstrate the Communist Party’s willingness to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. We call on China to release all those held for seeking to exercise these rights and freedoms, halt the use of arbitrary detention, and reverse counterproductive policies that conflate terrorism with religious and political expression. China’s own constitution stipulates that all power belongs to the people. History has shown that nations are stronger when governments are responsive to their citizens, respect the rule of law, and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It’s not known how many died, but the number could be in the thousands:

30 years ago, Chinese troops opened fire on protesters in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, killing hundreds if not thousands of people in a massacre that crushed a student-led movement for democracy. Our coverage examines how it has divided the Chinese people. https://t.co/1hDZ0cHGHN — The New York Times (@nytimes) June 4, 2019

And China is pretty pissed at Sec. Pompeo, accusing him of a “serious violation of international law”:

The Chinese government is furious over @SecPompeo’s comments on the 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Square, calling the remarks “a serious violation of international law.” pic.twitter.com/nlR3FRLik4 — Nahal Toosi (@nahaltoosi) June 4, 2019

China is currently censoring any mention of the anniversary from Western media sources:

And this is a powerful thread that shows just how much China wants to control the narrative:

Today, I’m thinking of Zhang Xianling, who lost her only son, Wang Nan, 30 years ago. Wang, 19, told his mother that he wanted to “record history.” Before he left for Tiananmen Square on June 3, 1989, he asked her: “Do you think the troops would open fire?” She said she did not. — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

Three hours later, he was shot dead by soldiers. That was how Ms. Zhang became central to the #tiananmenmothers, always calling on the government to account for its role in the massacre. I tried to visit her 5 years ago in April, together with @maximduncan. — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

We were stopped by 8 police and security officers, who had put her on 24-hour surveillance. Usually if this happens in China, interviewees plead with you not to contact them again or apologize for the general inconvenience. Not Ms. Zhang … — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

She called and said: “Go round the back and look for my kitchen window!” Let’s do the interview from here.” We scanned the block and saw a grey-haired woman waving furiously and holding a picture of her son. I think it was Kim Kyung-Hoon who took this photo. pic.twitter.com/6qhJ37Gh1B — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

@maximduncan set up his tripod on the sidewalk and we interviewed Ms. Zhang from there. She said, of the surveillance: “I find it ridiculous, I’m an old lady. What can I say to reporters? I don’t know any state secrets. What is there to be afraid of?” — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

I asked @williamnee that question. He said, of the Tiananmen Mothers: “There is much empathy for them given they lost children in 1989. They are seen as credible and their continued fight for justice, given their age, has drawn much sympathy.” — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

Months later, I looked Ms. Zhang up again, and this time I was able to visit her at home. We laughed about our previous “encounter.” Of course, an hour later, the police knocked on her door and demanded to know what I was doing there … — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

I’m pleased to see she’s still accepting interviews and will never turn a foreign reporter away. https://t.co/V8eeAEoHN9 — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

So when I see the Chinese government say “the Chinese people have the best say” (re: it’s response to Pompeo’s statement) on China, I think back to Ms. Zhang and all the other Tiananmen mothers and fathers. “All we are seeking for is the truth,” Ms. Zhang says. — Sui-Lee Wee 黄瑞黎 (@suilee) June 4, 2019

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