Remembering Tiananmen - Wu'er Kaixi on China and Democracy

As the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square ( 天安門 ) massacre approaches, I’m re-releasing this conversation with Wu’er Kaixi (吾爾開希) — one of the most prominent student leaders of the 1989 pro-democracy movement in Beijing.

Recorded in Taiwan in June 2025, this conversation explores the legacy of Tiananmen and the lasting global significance of June 4th, the state of democracy and dissent in China today, and what Wu’er Kaixi believes the world still misunderstands about the Chinese Communist Party.

This conversation remains a powerful reminder of the human cost of authoritarianism and of the enduring struggle for democratic freedoms.

Originally released in March 2026.