What would happen if I visited China and mentioned Tiananmen Square?

Question

Or what if I wore a shirt that showed a picture of the Goddess of Democracy statue, or the famous photo of the lone protester in front of the tanks?

I'm aware that it is a heavily censored topic in many parts of China. Might I get arrested, even as a foreigner?

This is a purely hypothetical question, and I don't intend to offend any parties with it.

Answer 1

Well, I guess the question is not really about what would the police do, (I'm sure if you do that in any given country, police's reaction would be the same)

Notice that what you see and hear from American isn't 100% unbiased either. And most people from around the world realize this. I am personally offended when someone from another country who knows nothing about America bashes America. And many people feel this way too.

When you are a Chinese, it's okay to talk about politics with other Chinese because they trust each other. However, I don't think you will get a very good answer if you want to talk about it.

Answer 2

The "three T's" which are not officially talked about in China are Taiwan, Tibet, and Tiananmen. It would depend upon where you were. At best, I think it would be rude to wear an insulting shirt (at least to some people) when you are a guest in their country. At Tiananmen Square, you would probably be talked to by a policeman who would politely ask you to leave (which you should then do). In Shanghai and many other cities, you might be ignored by most people. Remember, many Chinese people were either young children or not even born when the protests occurred - and, there is little official discussion.

In any case, if you were to try this, why? It would do you and your Chinese friends no good. I understand your last statement, this is what you should follow.

Bottom line: you probably would not be arrested. You might insult some people. You might anger some others. Some people might think you are wierd.

Answer 3

Hmmm... it depends a lot of where you are and what you are doing. When I was in China I asked some of my Chinese friends about Tiananmen and they didn't really know very much about it. Many are taught that it didn't happen or that the Western press caused the event and are to blame. If you started up debates with strangers however people might be concerned. If you wore a shirt with I don't think anyone would care - they probably wouldn't even know what it was. The photo of Tiananmen might get you in trouble, however. Probably not arrested though. They just might ask you to leave whatever area you are in. Foreigners get in less trouble for this sort of behavior than the Chinese do.

Answer 4

Jenny - I lived Beijing for 3 years and now Shanghai for 2 1/2, you as a foreigner can bring up any topic you want, you will get positive answers and negative answers, some will agree with you and some will not, as far as wearing a T-shirt, that is a bad idea, no reason for is there? I have a friend that had a young Chinese guy come to his High School in Va. in history class they came to the chapter on China and T-square incident and he said this is a lie, they showed him the video and he wept, in some parts the topic is totally taboo, in other parts it is no problem, you as a foreigner would not get arrested, most people would not even know what they were looking at, I think I can safely say at least 70% of China has never seen that picture, but it is still a bad idea

Answer 5

The vast majority would have no idea what your T-shirt meant and would assume that it was the Statue of Liberty.
High Schoolers in China have been taught about a little bit about Tiananmen square just for this reason. Only it is taught as a successful government resistance to a violent attempt to overthrow the communist party. The demonstrators are pretty much described as crazy lunatics who simply wanted to start trouble and resort to violence. If you tell younger Chinese that's not true, they will tell you that it is YOU brainwashed by YOUR government propoganda.
No, you wouldn't get arrested. Police in China are hardly a government tool, they're more out for personal gain. But then again, they did rip Taiwan flags off children's backs after they had one a swimming competition in Thailand, so you never no.
Most of China's rules are to scare people into compliance, it's mostly bark with little bite when dealing with foreigners. (Dealing with Chinese farmers is a different story completely)

Answer 6

Well is depends on if any policement saw you and what mood they are in.

The worse they would likely do is, if you wore it through airport customs is they take ut off you, or they will kick you **** out of the country.

Now if you wore it in Tiananmen square they propary arrest you, take the shirt off you and kick you out of the country. But the chance increases if theres an important event going on across the road in the main goverment buildings.

But reminder things in the east are diffetent.

That photo of the Lone protester in front of the tanks as 2 meanins one western and one eastern.

In the west it is famous for the protester standing up to the might of the army

In the East it is famous for the tank commander disobeying orders and showing compassion for his follow countrymen (At the time there was no way that tank commader knew he was being filmed)

Answer 7

This is my opinion - and please note - only an opinion, OK?

If you were to wear the T-shirt, the authorities would probably move you on. More likely - you will offend the people (the general public) there. To them, you will be seen as making a mockery of a sad event that happened by putting it on a shirt and displaying it as if it was soemthing to be shown around.

You have to keep in mind that no matter what you believe or what your political views are - even if they are the same as the people in the other country, THE WAY THINGS OPERATE and the social behaviour of the people are DIFFERENT to your own country. Do some research and KNOW how to behave in the country you are going to will be a good idea.

Answer 8

my friends told me that they were the grass roots, the national matters would be nothing to do with them ANYMORE after they smartly managed an escape from Beijing to stay with me overnight. they were the protesters of Tiananmen Square 20 years ago. the leaders had all been safely and timely evacuated, and left the innocent naivers for sacrifices, who were at least severely punished by Chinese government. they admitted they were a bit excited to be a bit naughty in protesting around, and truly did not know they were merely stirring tools for the student leaders who were all guaranteed by western governments while they were not. Actually they just wanted to copy the so-called 5.4 spirit as they had been educated by that. when they sat back to think over, they all felt a bit ridiculous since China was not ready for the western democracy... as a third year student in the army uni in Beijing at that time, I realised that at that very moment, a civil war was at the brink due to the political maneuver between factions. today, I would say, 6.4 was not a good stuff which could not produce any sweet fruit by either ways (success or failure), it is only a bitter story for all the chinese people...Chinse should be standing together to fight back poverty and gain more prides without looking at the western magic wands. I live in the west, and I know what 6.4 incident was and is. I don't want any arguement about it. I just want to say "**** off for all the politics". if Chinse are content with their current life, then let them continue the path they are experiencing. PLEASE DO NOT STIR THE THINGS UP FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CONSCIENCE, IT MIGHT COST LIFE AND OF COURSE HAPPINESS...

Answer 9

Since you said that this is hypothetical, would you behave the same way when visiting someone of a different culture? Would you do or bring something that is definitely against their culture?

Like you said, you do intend to offend any parties, it seems strange that you want to discuss a topic that you know is controversial.

Be sensible and remember that you are in someone's else country. If you don't like the way they do things, then do'n go.

Answer 10

I am sure a foreigner wearing an Usama bin Laden t-shirt and walking downtown Manhattan would be immediately hauled up by the FBI or Homeland Security and dumped in Gitmo Bay to rot without any recourse to justice.Which is better ,the so-called democratic USA or Communist China?