Taiwan residents hold candlelight vigil in memory of Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy protesters

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(4 Jun 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Taipei, Taiwan - 4 June 2025 1. Various of candlelight vigil and people placing candles on ground 2. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lee Ming-che, activist: “Why do we need to remember June 4th? What do we need to remember? We need to remember. The People's Republic of China pointed guns at unarmed young students just because these students demanded democracy and freedom.” 3. Close of candles 4. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Lee Ming-che, activist: “Taiwan people do not have a second choice when facing such governance. We must but fight back with all our might, because too many examples of bloodshed have happened, and are happening, in front of us. If Taiwan and Taiwanese people do not want to become China’s slaves, we must but fight back. Am I right?” 5. Various of candles STORYLINE: Taipei residents gathered Wednesday evening for a candlelight vigil in memory of victims of Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1989. It is only in Taiwan, a self-governing island that is claimed by China but runs its own affairs, that large June 4 gatherings can still take place.  For most Chinese in the region, the 36th anniversary of a bloody crackdown is a taboo and sensitive subject. China bans any public commemoration or mention of the June 4th crackdown, scrubbing references from the internet.  In recent years, that ban has been extended to Hong Kong, where a once-massive annual candlelight vigil is no longer permitted. Taiwan transitioned from authoritarianism to democracy in a process that began in the late 1980s. It relies on support principally from the U.S., along with other democratic partners, to deter China from an invasion.  Lee Ming-che, a Taiwanese pro-democracy activist who was imprisoned in China for five years before his release in 2022, spoke at a memorial event. “We need to remember,” Lee said. "The People's Republic of China pointed guns at unarmed young students just because these students demanded democracy and freedom,” he added. Lee was arrested by Chinese authorities in 2017 and charged with subversion of state power. His arrest was China’s first criminal prosecution of a nonprofit worker since Beijing passed a law tightening controls over foreign non-governmental organizations in 2016. “If Taiwan and Taiwanese people do not want to become China’s slaves, we must but fight back,” Lee told crowds at the memorial event. AP video by Taijing Wu =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/30a01191307f4cd7a93f143cca4f3bcb