Taipei - China must "sincerely repent" for
the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in and
around Tiananmen Square three decades ago and promote democratic
reforms, Taiwan's government said on Monday ahead of the
sensitive anniversary.
Tuesday marks 30 years since Chinese troops opened fire to
end the student-led unrest. Chinese authorities ban any public
commemoration of the event on the mainland and have never
released a full death toll. Estimates from human rights groups
and witnesses range from several hundred to several thousand.
"China has to sincerely repent for the June 4 incident and
proactively push for democratic reforms," Taiwan's Mainland
Affairs Council said in a statement likely to infuriate China.
"We earnestly admonish the Chinese authorities to face up to
the historical mistake, and sincerely apologise as soon as
possible."
The council said Beijing had been telling lies to cover up
the events of 1989 and distorting the truth.
There was no immediate response from Beijing. China claims
self-ruled and democratic Taiwan as its sacred territory, to be
taken back by force if necessary.
Beijing has increased government suppression of rights
activism, pushing the demonstrators' original goals further away
than ever.
"Taiwan will continue to point to the direction of democracy
for mainland China," the council said, adding that it would
support China's move to democracy "in all manner of ways".
Students rest in the litter of Tiananmen Square in Beijing on May 28, 1989, as their strike for government reform enters its third week. File picture: Jeff Widener/AP
Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe on Sunday defended
Beijing's handling of Tiananmen, saying the government "was
decisive in stopping the turbulence", a rare official
acknowledgement of the events of June 4.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said such remarks in
defence of the Chinese military's handling of the protests were
"incredible".
"It proves that them keeping saying 'Chinese people don't
attack Chinese people' is a gargantuan lie."
China has been ramping up the pressure on Taiwan, which
holds presidential elections in January, whittling away at its
few remaining diplomatic allies and regularly sending air force
jets close to the island.
A student protester puts barricades in the path of an already burning armoured personnel carrier that rammed through student lines during an army attack on pro-democracy protesters on Beijing's Tiananmen Square early on June 4, 1989. File picture: Jeff Widener/AP
Beijing suspects President Tsai Ing-wen and her ruling
Democratic Progressive Party of pushing formal independence for
Taiwan, a red line for China. Tsai repeatedly says she wants to
maintain the status quo but vows to defend the island's
democracy.
China's defence minister, also speaking on Sunday, said the
military would fight "if anyone dares to split Taiwan from
China".
Taiwan's defence ministry labelled Wei's remarks "bellicose"
and a clear threat to peace and security.