Lai marks Tiananmen anniversary, reaffirms defense of democracy

Taipei, June 4 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Wednesday commemorated the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre on social media, underscoring the importance of defending democracy and freedom.

"Every year on June 4, Taiwanese society lights candles of remembrance grounded in the universal values" shared among democracies, Lai said, adding that doing so was "not only about commemorating the history but also about preserving the memory" of the incident.

As authoritarian regimes erase history, democracies "have a duty" to preserve it, he said.

Criticizing China without naming it, Lai also warned that 36 years on, the threat of authoritarianism by military intimidation, gray-zone coercion, surveillance or extraterritorial repression remains a global challenge to democratic societies.

Taiwan stands on the frontlines of defending democratic values worldwide, he said, noting that it will continue working with like-minded partners to "safeguard the status quo" and protect democracy and freedom.

Lai said Taiwan endured decades of authoritarian rule before transitioning to democracy, a process made possible by the sacrifices and efforts of countless pro-democracy advocates.

"We deeply understand the value of freedom and must not ignore the threats posed by authoritarian expansion to global democracy and the rule of law," he said.

In the early hours of June 4, 1989, peaceful Chinese student protesters who had gathered at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing to call for political reform were brutally cracked down on by Chinese troops under orders from then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平).

The number of deaths from the incident, which remains a sensitive and heavily censored topic in China, is estimated to range from several hundred to potentially over 1,000, though some sources suggest the toll may have been higher.