Xi hails Tiananmen crackdown in Jiang Zemin centenary speech

Key points

• Xi Jinping addressed thousands of officials and delegates, including all seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee and retired leaders, at a centenary event for former leader Jiang Zemin.
• The speech explicitly praised the Communist Party’s decision to use troops and tanks to clear Tiananmen Square during the 1989 democracy protests, a topic that remains heavily censored in mainland China.
• Xi framed China as facing 'rough seas' and 'raging storms' but emphasized resilience, linking national stability to the 'two great miracles' of rapid economic development and social order.
• The address highlighted Jiang Zemin’s role in stabilizing Shanghai and rising to power after the crackdown, noting his era saw China join the World Trade Organization in 2001.
• Xi touted national accomplishments and improving living standards despite data showing slowing economic growth, while noting a scheduled late-September meeting with US President Donald Trump to discuss trade, AI, and Taiwan.

Background

This speech follows a 12-episode state TV documentary aired last week commemorating Jiang Zemin, which also referenced the 1989 crackdown but omitted footage of the killings. The address occurs amid tense US-China relations, with Xi and Trump scheduled to meet in late September to address trade tensions, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan issues. Previous coverage noted China’s ongoing censorship of Tiananmen imagery and its broader efforts to control narratives around sensitive historical events.

Why it matters

The speech signals Beijing’s continued emphasis on political stability and historical narrative control, using a high-profile commemoration to reinforce the legitimacy of past crackdowns. It also highlights the regime’s focus on resilience amid economic slowdown and geopolitical friction, particularly with the United States, as it prepares for high-level diplomatic talks.

What to watch

Xi and Trump are expected to meet in late September to discuss trade, AI, and Taiwan. The speech may influence the tone of these negotiations, as Beijing frames its domestic stability and historical decisions as foundational to its current geopolitical stance.