Beijing
Zhao Ziyang, a former chief of China’s Communist Party who became an icon of dissent, died this week, at age 85. Zhao publicly opposed firing on the pro-democracy protesters who gathered in Tiananmen Square in May 1989. But he was ousted by hard-liners, and a few weeks later, the army attacked the demonstrators, killing hundreds. Zhao lived under house arrest for the last 15 years of his life. The Chinese media reported his death in a few brief sentences, mentioning neither Zhao’s achievements as prime minister—such as passing economic reforms that triggered the economic boom—nor his arrest. The official news agency, Xinhua, referred to him only as “comrade.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The EU’s war on fast fashionIn the Spotlight Bloc launches investigation into Shein over sale of weapons and ‘childlike’ sex dolls, alongside efforts to tax e-commerce giants and combat textile waste
-
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast: a ‘highly entertaining ride’The Week Recommends Mystery-comedy from the creator of Derry Girls should be ‘your new binge-watch’
-
The 8 best TV shows of the 1960sThe standout shows of this decade take viewers from outer space to the Wild West
