STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER LEE KUAN YEW ON THE EVENTS IN BEIJING

My Cabinet colleagues and I are shocked, horrified and saddened by this disastrous turn of events. We had expected the Chinese Government to apply the doctrine of minimum force when an army is used to quell civil disorder. Instead, the fire-power and violence used caused many deaths and casualties. They were totally disproportionate to the resistance unarmed civilians offered.

A China with large sections of her people, including her best educated, at odds with the Government, means trouble, with people resentful, reforms stalled, and economy stagnant. Because of her size, such a China could create problems for herself and her neighbours in Asia.

We hope wiser counsels will prevail to pursue conciliation, so that Chinese people can resume the progress which the open door policies have brought them.

PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE 5 JUNE 1989 TIME OF ISSUE: 2100 HOURS


Political, economic reforms 'need not go hand in hand'
Citing Tiananmen incident, Minister Mentor Lee points out that China wouldn't be better off today if students had toppled govt Straits Times, 17 August 2004

"Using China as an example, he asked rhetorically if the world's rising economic power would be better off today, if the students at Tiananmen Square in 1989 had overthrown the government and built a thriving democracy.

'I didn't think so then, and I don't think so now,' he replied.

Commenting on Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's decision then, he added: 'He took over and he said, 'If I have to shoot 200,000 students to save China from another 100 years of disorder, so be it'.'

Mr Deng had gone through hardship in his life to know that China could not afford to let the dangerous situation get out of hand. He chose economic reform first and openness later."