Today, we mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown. More than two decades have passed since People's Liberation Army troops crushed China's biggest peaceful protest, causing a terrible loss of life. But memories of this dark day in the nation's history have not faded.
The tragic events of June 4, 1989, continue to influence perceptions of China around the world, despite the country's extraordinary economic achievements and emergence on the world stage. They have also had a lasting impact on Hong Kong, which was preparing for its return to China at the time.
Most important, though, is the impact the violent crackdown still has on so many lives. Relatives of those who died continue to mourn their loved ones, clinging to the hope that one day, the truth will be told and justice done.
The wounds will begin to heal and reconciliation be possible only if the central government faces up to the tragedy and deals with its legacy. It should, at the very least, recognise that those involved in the pro-democracy movement were not counter-revolutionaries determined to plunge China into turmoil. The protesters had genuine grievances and raised concerns shared by some of China's leaders at the time. They were peacefully exercising their right of free expression, not threatening the nation.
Sadly, such a step seems almost as unlikely now as it did at the time. There is no sign that Beijing intends to review its official verdict on the crackdown. It has been argued that crushing the demonstrations was justified in order to pave the way for China's stable development and economic growth. There is no doubt that China has made great strides since 1989. The Communist Party embraced economic reforms which have lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. China has increasingly opened up to the world, growing in confidence and stature. Chinese people take pride in these achievements.
But the suggestion that none of this would have been possible without the Tiananmen crackdown is misconceived. The deadlock in 1989 could have been broken without violence. Economic growth would still have been possible, and indeed might even have been enhanced if accompanied by a more open and tolerant political environment.