Story perspectives

Exposed: 1990 Trial of Tiananmen Square Hero Xu Qinxian

12/2/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A six-hour video released by Wu Renhua shows the 1990 military trial of Major General Xu Qinxian for refusing to deploy troops during the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.
Xu argued that the situation required a political resolution, not military force.
The trial lacked independent judicial processes.
Xu had no lawyer present.
The video has sparked discussion among Chinese-speaking users outside mainland China, where discourse about the massacre is heavily censored.

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Story summary

A six-hour video released by Wu Renhua shows the 1990 military trial of Major General Xu Qinxian for refusing to deploy troops during the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.
Xu argued that the situation required a political resolution, not military force.
The trial lacked independent judicial processes.
Xu had no lawyer present.
The video has sparked discussion among Chinese-speaking users outside mainland China, where discourse about the massacre is heavily censored.