VOX POPULI: File on Xu Qinxian's refusal at Tiananmen remains open

Asahi Shimbun

2 days ago

When I come across information in a newspaper or on the internet about a subject that piques my journalistic curiosity, I save it and file it away in the hopes of doing a story later.
As this has been my habit for quite a while, my files just keep growing, and I need to keep them under control by tidying them up from time to time.
However, there inevitably are materials that make me pause the task and think.
One example is my dossier on Xu Qinxian (1935-2021).
According to what is written on a piece of paper in my hand, Xu was born into a poor family in China's Hubei province. He volunteered for the army at age 15 and saw combat during the Korean War.
Xu was said to be a quiet soldier who enjoyed reading, but must have also excelled professionally. After a series of promotions, he eventually rose to the rank of major general in the People's Liberation Army.
He became known to the world during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
As the leader of the elite 38th Group Army in charge of defending the Chinese capital, Xu was ordered to advance to Beijing. But he defied the order, refusing to suppress pro-democracy students with armed force.
This was a rare case of insubordination by a high-ranking officer. Xu was arrested and sent to prison.
He was not heard of at all until 2011, when a scoop by the now-defunct Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily brought Xu's presence back to the world.
Asked about his past, Xu told his interviewer simply, 'It's all in the past. I have no regrets.'
I wonder what was going on within the military at the time of Xu's insubordination.
How was the decision made to use armed force against unarmed students? What effects did the political strife among the leadership have on the situation?
I requested an interview with Xu through an acquaintance of mine. But I never received a reply.
Xu died four years ago at age 85.
June 4 marked the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre, but even this fact cannot be mentioned in China today.
Many questions remain unanswered. And I am still unable to discard my Xu file.
—The Asahi Shimbun, June 5
* * *
Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.