June 4 marks the 35th anniversary of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square incident. Several politicians took to social media to comment on the anniversary and what it means for democracy.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) spoke about the incident in a Facebook post, commenting that a truly respectable country allows its people to speak up. He said that all political powers should bravely face the voice of the people.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) posted on Facebook as well, remarking that Taiwan has also experienced an era of authoritarianism, and that the efforts of multiple generations were needed to recover what was forgotten. He said he hopes that one day every corner of the world will regain their memory of freedom.
In Cabinet spokesperson Chen Shih-kai’s (陳世凱) Facebook post, he recollected the hopeful and passionate young faces that gathered in Tiananmen Square in 1989, saying their spirit is still fresh in his mind to this day.
Chen pointed out that some media outlets have left their front pages blank due to the restriction of the national security law in Hong Kong. A group of 47 pro-democracy advocates have been convicted in Hong Kong under this law. Chen said the blank images remind him of the importance of maintaining a united front to protect freedom and democracy.
Lai commented that beyond commemorating those involved in the incident, remembering June 4 is also for people around the world who share the common belief that only democracy and freedom can truly protect the people. Lai said he will endeavor to keep the memory of the incident alive as a reminder that these privileges are not free.