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China Accuses Pompeo of Smearing Its Policies With His Tiananmen Square Remarks

Secretary of State’s statement is “an affront to the Chinese people and a serious violation of international law,” a spokesman said.

China accused U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of vilifying its domestic and foreign policies by saluting the 1989 Tiananmen Square protesters on the 30th anniversary of its crackdown in Beijing, the Associated Press reports. In a post on the website of the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., a Chinese spokesman wrote that Pompeo’s statement “grossly intervenes” in China’s internal affairs and is “an affront to the Chinese people and a serious violation of international law.” Pompeo’s statement called on the Chinese government to publicly account for those killed in the crackdown of June 4, 1989. “The events of 30 years ago still stir our conscience, and the conscience of freedom-loving people around the world,” Pompeo wrote. “We urge the Chinese government to make a full, public accounting of those killed or missing to give comfort to the many victims of this dark chapter of history.” Beijing has increased security around Tiananmen in what many consider the government’s attempt to stamp out any recollection of the deadly pro-democracy protests.