China hits out at Marco Rubio over criticism of 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown
China has lodged a protest about US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments about the
1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown
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'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.'
The crackdown on the protests on June 4, 1989
has long been a political taboo for Beijing . The authorities have banned any public discussion of the incident on social media.
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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.
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