During the following days and weeks, the consequences quickly followed: martial law was imposed; Zhao Ziyang was sacked; Li Peng was given the task to implement the decision of the Elders; Jiang Zemin was selected to replace Zhao ('he's got it just right politically, has strong party loyalty and can see the big picture,' remarked Deng).
The built-up of events culminated during the night of June 3-4 when the tanks of the 27th Army rolled on to the Square. We know the rest.
Though Deng managed to keep the economic reforms on track, the West announced that it would boycott China until democracy was introduced. But business is business, two top US officials, Brent Scowcroft and Lawrence Eagleburger returned to Beijing in December 1989 to 'explore the possibility of developing a 'road map' toward better relations.'
So goes the world, but a 19-year-old wound remains wide open, especially after this year's events in Tibet. In fact, it is doubtful if the 'negotiations' between the Dalai Lama and Beijing can ever succeed as long as the 'stability' hard-line, today led by Chinese President Hu Jintao prevails in the party.
Image: Pro-democracy demonstrators surround People's Liberation Army soldiers on May 20, 1989 on their way to Tiananmen Square after martial law was proclaimed in Beijing. Photograph: Catherine Henriette/AFP/Getty Images
Also see: While India sleeps, Chinese threat grows
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