China’s defence minister has defended 1989’s bloody crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square, which he said was justified in the name of stability.

Referring to the demonstrations as political “turbulence”, Wei Fenghe said it had been the “correct policy” for troops with assault rifles and tanks to fire at the unarmed, student-led protesters.

Estimates vary on how many people died on 4 June 1989, but it is thought between 1,500 and 4,000 demonstrators were killed and 10,000 wounded.

“Throughout the 30 years, China under the Communist Party has undergone many changes,” General Wei said in a hardline speech about trade and security at a regional forum in Singapore.

“Do you think the government was wrong with the handling of 4 June? There was a conclusion to that incident. The government was decisive in stopping the turbulence.”

Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Show all 12 1 /12 Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Man blocks tank A tank driving down a road nearby Tiananmen Square is blocked by an unidentified man on 5 June. The picture is seen around the globe as a protest against the previous days events, when tensions that had been building for months came to a head... Bettmann Archive via Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Hu Yaobang dies - 15 April Former general secretary of the Communist Party Hu Yaobang dies aged 73 of a heart attack. He was a leading reformer of the Chinese system who the public saw to be unfairly removed from government. Citizens flock to Tiananmen Square to mourn him. Mourning soon turns to anger as they dwell on the state of China. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Protests spread - 17 April In the days after Hu's death, university students around China are organising. On 17 April, thousands of students march on Tiananmen Square to demand democracy and greater freedoms. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events "We must a clear stand against disturbances" - 26 April So begins the editorial on the front page of the People's Daily, the Chinese state newspaper, on 26 April. The editorial goes on to attack the protesters as anti-party and anti-government. Protesters read a clear message that the government is against them and call for the editorial to be retracted. Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Protests spread further - 4 May Thousands more students in five cities across China join the protests. Head of the Communist Party Zhao Ziyang tells a meeting of bankers that the protests are sure to subside. Pictured are journalists from the China Daily newspaper showing support in Tiananmen Square. Protesters were calling for freedom of the press, among other rights common to democracies Reuters Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Hunger strikes begin - 13 May Hundreds of students begin hunger strikes, upping the stakes of the protests. Pictured: Paramedics remove a student protester who has been on hunger strike on 17 May 1989 AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Zhao visits Tiananmen Square - 19 May Now doubting that the strikes will subside without intervention from the government, party head Zhao Ziyang visits Tiananmen Square and urges students to end the hunger strike. Chinese premier Li Peng briefly joins Zhao but leaves soon after arriving. Zhao was removed from office later in the day. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Martial law declared - 20 May Chinese premier Li Peng declares martial law. Soldiers move in on Tiananmen Square but many are held up by protesters. Soldiers are ordered not to fire on civilians. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Protests continue - 22 May to 1 June On 22 May, a military helicopter drops leaflets above Tiananmen Square that instruct protesters to leave immediately. Despite this, protests continue while the army withdraws. Reuters Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Soldiers move in to clear the square - 3 June On the evening of 3 June, soldiers advance with force. Protesters are warned that the troops have the right to use any methods necessary to clear the square. AFP/Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Soldiers open fire - 4 June In the early hours of the morning, some troops begin to shoot dead protesters who defy their efforts to clear the square. Pictured: A man is covered in blood after the People's Liberation Army open fire on protesters in Tiananmen Square Getty Tiananmen Square massacre: Timeline of events Man blocks tank - 5 June A tank driving down a road nearby Tiananmen Square is blocked by an unidentified man. The picture is seen around the globe as a protest against the previous days events. Bettmann Archive via Getty

He said the Tiananmen protests were “political turmoil that the central government needed to quell, which was the correct policy”, and claimed that China’s stability and development justified the actions.

It is rare for Chinese authorities to even acknowledge the demonstrations, which saw students and workers occupy Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in a massive pro-democracy protest.

The protest was joined by 1 million people at its peak, but on the night of 3 June 1989, tanks and troops moved into the square and opened fire on unarmed protesters in and around the central Beijing square.

Two days after the massacre a single protester, known as “Tank Man” or the “unknown protester”, stood in front of a convoy of tanks leaving Tiananmen Square.

As the lead tank manoeuvred to pass him, he repeatedly shifted his position in order to obstruct the tank’s attempted path around him.

Film of the incident was smuggled out of the country and broadcast all over the world.

Afterwards, the authorities blamed the protests on counter-revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the Communist Party and claimed no one had been shot dead in the square itself.

The country has never released an official death toll.

Reporting on the events of 4 June 1989 and mentioning them on social media are heavily censored in China.

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Every year, police detain dozens of activists, journalists and critics in the run-up to the anniversary.

Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), a US-based group supporting activism in China, said 13 activists had been detained or “forced into disappearance” ahead of the anniversary to “silence any expression or thwart any action” this year.