China hits out at Marco Rubio over criticism of 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown
The US Secretary of State was accused of ‘maliciously distorting facts’ after criticising the suppression of pro-democracy protests
“These remarks maliciously distort historical facts, attack China’s political system and development path, and interfere in China’s internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular press briefing on Wednesday.
He added that China was “strongly dissatisfied” with and “firmly opposed” Rubio’s comments criticising the Communist Party’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests, and “had lodged solemn representations with the US side”.
In a statement published on the State Department’s website and on social media, Rubio said: “[The Tiananmen protesters’] courage in the face of certain danger reminds us that the principles of freedom, democracy, and self-rule are not just American principles. They are human principles the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] cannot erase.”
Beijing has consistently rejected criticisms of its actions, particularly from the US and other Western countries, and regards them as a public challenge to the country’s political system.
Lin said on Wednesday that “the Chinese government has long had a clear conclusion on the political turmoil that occurred in the late 1980s”.