Former People's Liberation Army officer issues caution of potential Tiananmen Square-like suppression in Taiwan
A Chilling Warning from a Former PLA Officer: Taiwan's Possible Fate under China's Unification Attempt
In a chilling warning, a former officer from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, Li Xiaoming (李曉明), has hinted that Taiwan could meet a similar grim fate if China tries to unify the country by force.
Li, who was deployed in Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, advised Taiwanese citizens to study the Tiananmen Square tragedy closely, as it offers an unsettling glimpse of the lengths Beijing is prepared to go to crush dissent.
"The Tiananmen Square massacre isn't solely a page from China's history," Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, just days before the 36th anniversary of the massacre. "It's a grim cautionary tale, a chilling warning to the world about what could transpire if Taiwan is faced with a similar situation."
Li, now 61, intended to voice his concerns due to the Tiananmen massacre's far-reaching implications. "As a member of the Chinese military, I feel I have both the right and the responsibility to speak the truth about what happened," he confessed.
In the spring of 1989, Li was serving as the head of a radar station under the PLA's 39th Army Corps, a year after graduating from a military academy. On May 20, his unit was ordered to deploy to Beijing to protect foreign embassies near the square. However, the Chinese military moved in with tanks and live ammunition to clear the square, killing hundreds—possibly thousands—of unarmed civilians, according to declassified U.S. government documents.
Li's reflections on the Tiananmen Square tragedy are a stark reminder of the chilling consequences of suppressing dissent. Moreover, as a former PLA soldier, his account offers unique insights into the events that transpired during that fateful night.
"I was stationed far from Beijing, but I was one of many soldiers waiting for orders," Li recalled. "Our commander Xu Feng (許峰) conducted reconnaissance in the capital and returned saying he had seen soldiers firing at protesters. It was clear to me that Xu had a change of heart and deliberately delayed our advance."
Such accounts shed light on the chilling reality of China's authoritarian rule and the lengths it goes to maintain order. Li's story underscores the importance of examining events like the Tiananmen Square massacre, particularly in light of China's reported intentions to assert control over Taiwan.
"What happened in Tiananmen Square about three decades ago is a sobering warning," Li stressed. "It's crucial for Taiwanese people—and the international community—to be aware of the potential consequences if Taiwanese students or young people were to take to the streets in protest. Beijing might respond the same way it did on June 4, 1989 – with tanks and machine guns."
A world that remains shackled by censorship and political repression can sometimes find it difficult to comprehend the gravity of such events. Li's words serve as a grim reminder of the potential threat Taiwan faces and the responsibility we all share to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
References:1. Taiwan-China relations2. U.S. policy towards Taiwan3. China's military modernization4. One China Principle5. Strategic Implications of a China-Taiwan Conflict
"The chilling warning from Li Xiaoming about Taiwan's potential fate under China's unification attempts highlights the significance of understanding past political events, such as the Tiananmen Square massacre, as they offer insights into future conflicts and general news about war-and-conflicts."
"Furthermore, as Li's account provides unique perspectives on China's authoritarian rule and military actions, it underlines the importance of examining such incidents in the context of current geopolitical issues, particularly in the realm of politics and general news."
