What led up to the events? In the 1980s, China was going through huge changes. The ruling Communist Party began to allow some private companies and foreign investment.

Why has no Tian’anmen-style social movement appeared again in mainland China since 1989?

Tian’anmen-style social movement 

In 1989 Beijing’s Tiananmen Square became the focus for large-scale protests, which were crushed by China’s Communist rulers.

The events produced one of the most iconic photos of the 20th Century – a lone protester standing in front of a line of army tanks.

The events remain a highly sensitive topic in China and one of the few remaining public memorials in Hong Kong has now been removed.

What led up to the events?

In the 1980s, China was going through huge changes.

The ruling Communist Party began to allow some private companies and foreign investment.

Leader Deng Xiaoping hoped to boost the economy and raise living standards.

However, the move brought with it corruption, while at the same time raising hopes for greater political openness.

The Communist Party was divided between those urging more rapid change and hardliners wanting to maintain strict state control.

In the mid-1980s, student-led protests started.

Those taking part included people who had lived abroad and been exposed to new ideas and higher standards of living.