Zhao Ziyang
Zhao Ziyang Speaks to Students
"Students, we came too late. We are sorry. You talk about us, criticize us, it is all necessary. The reason that I came here is not to ask for your forgiveness. What I want to say is that you are all getting weak, it has been seven days since you went on a hunger strike, you can’t continue like this. As time goes on, your body will be damaged beyond repair, it could be very life-threatening. Now the most important thing is to end this strike. You are still young, there are still many days yet to come, you must live healthy, and see the day when China accomplishes the four modernizations. You are not like us, we are already old, so we do not matter. Finally, I beg the students once again, think about the future calmly. There are many things that can be solved. I hope that you will all end the hunger strike soon, thank you."
Aftermath
Zhao Ziyang’s speech to the students highlighted his compassionate approach and aligned him firmly with their cause, cementing his reputation as a symbol of reform and leniency within the CCP’s rigid ranks. His words, infused with democratic ideals, unmistakably positioned him as the students' advocate, a stance that carried grave personal risk. When the protests were brutally suppressed, Zhao paid the price for his empathy and ideals. The CCP swiftly removed him from power, replacing him with Jiang Zemin, who enforced Zhao's house arrest for the remaining 15 years of his life. Isolated and stripped of his influence, Zhao watched the nation he had hoped to open transform under increasingly authoritarian rule. Even in death, Zhao’s punishment continued: his ashes were withheld from a proper burial until 2019, a final symbolic gesture of the CCP’s enduring disapproval. Zhao's life became a quiet tragedy, a tale of lost hope and unwavering principle, yet he remained a respected figure among those who yearned for a more open and compassionate China.