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.”
Subscribe to 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.
-
Sweden's Soft Hooligans: the fans who brought 'good vibes' to the EurosUnder the Radar Formed to create a fun fan atmosphere, the Swedish football supporter group has been bringing the party to the championship
-
Crossword: July 18, 2025The Week's daily crossword
-
Sudoku hard: July 18, 2025The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
