Today marks the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident, a tragic event that still exemplifies the tyranny of the Chinese government. A former Japanese diplomat in China, Takashi Minami, recently recalled the shocking sights he witnessed at the square. He saw several innocent civilians lying on the ground, drenched in blood, as protestors continued to demand democracy and freedom, even faced with imminent suppression.

Minami recounted his experiences while he was assigned to the Japanese embassy in Beijing, where he observed a massive gathering of people protesting for democracy. Following the announcement of martial law, the participants decreased, leaving only a core group of students and activists around the Monument to the People's Heroes. He criticized the government's violent crackdown, highlighting the stark divide between the Communist Party and the citizens.

In the midst of escalating tensions, Minami witnessed over 5,000 soldiers advancing towards Tiananmen Square. The protests on June 3 stirred a military response, leading to a significant crackdown the following day that resulted in the cold-blooded targeting of hundreds of civilians. Reflecting on the scene, he wondered why many would still stand their ground in the face of certain death.

The brutal scenes from that time remain vividly imprinted in Minami's mind. He noted that not only did the protestors believe the army would not fire upon the people, but so too did many other nations have hopes for China's future. In the end, these perceptions proved to be a critical misjudgment of the Communist Party's reactions. He concluded by emphasizing that the lessons learned from this history could provide significant guidance for future Japan-China relations.