2023-06-04
Commemorating June 4th: A Statement from DPP Defending and Upholding Taiwan’s Hard-Earned Democracy
“If you cover your eyes, you think you can’t see. If you cover your ears, you think you can’t hear.” On this day, 34 years ago, Chinese students and its citizens gathered in the streets, calling for democracy, freedom, and political reforms. Today, 34 years later, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wishes to commemorate and remember the victims of the June 4th Tiananmen Square Incident. We express our full support and respect to all those around the world who fight and strive for democracy, freedom, and human rights.
In 1989, Chinese students and people took to the streets to express their desire for democracy while calling for political reform in China. Their demands were ruthlessly suppressed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), resulting in the loss of countless young lives and leaving behind scars and trauma that are still felt today in Chinese society. The DPP believes every country and society should respect basic human rights and cherish the freedom of speech, assembly, and association. We believe that the Chinese government should change its ways, ceasing its authoritarian practices of suppressing free thought, restricting peoples’ freedoms, and ignoring the rights of its citizens.
Today, many people within China are imprisoned by the CCP for simply expressing their opinions. In addition, the CCP continues to expand its military ambitions, increasing tensions and posing a threat towards regional stability and security. In response to the CCP’s actions, the DPP calls on the international community of democratic countries to continue bringing light to human rights issues in China and jointly resist China’s escalating military threats.
The DPP would like to emphasize that commemorating June 4th is not only about remembering history but also about affirming democracy, freedom, and human rights as universal values that we should all share and enjoy. We can never forget the sacrifices made by the brave Chinese students 34 years ago who made a choice between “democracy and dictatorship”. Facing China’s threats, the DPP will never give up its stance of “peace”, but we also firmly uphold “four commitments”, in order to defend Taiwan’s hard-earned democracy and freedom
