The Tamesis
A demonstrator in Beijing blocks the path of a tank convoy on Eternal Peace Avenue near Tiananmen Square. For weeks, people have been protesting the Chinese government’s freedom of speech and press.
Getty Images
Today is the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
That day, in that square, I will never forget. This is the moment when the scales dropped in the eyes of the world, and the true nature of the CCP was further revealed.
The image of one man against multiple tanks is a vivid reminder of the cost of bravery, but also of the necessity and power of moral courage.
One of the reasons Tank Man stands out is that he represents a modern-day David vs. Goliath moment, with one man trying to challenge the entire system.
Although the tank man’s bravery did not lead to the defeat of the Communist Party, it did inspire generations of Chinese people to pursue freedom.
I think of Ziba Murat, whose mother Gulshan Abbas was imprisoned for nearly eight years simply because she was Uyghur. Ziba’s tireless advocacy on behalf of her mother is an inspiration and an important reminder of the cost of the Chinese Communist Party’s detention of family members of American citizens across China.
I remember that Hong Kong political prisoner Zhou Hengdong is currently on trial. Instead of holding the annual candlelight vigil commemorating Tiananmen Square in Victoria Park, she was jailed for supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. She bravely used her closing argument to reflect on how and why the Chinese Communist Party can never be the final arbiter of right and wrong.
I think of Grace Jin Drexel, whose father is a Chinese Christian pastor, Ezra Jin Mingri, who has been detained by the Chinese Communist Party since October 2025 along with 17 other pastors and staff of Zion Church simply for sharing the gospel. Pastor Jin’s own conversion to Christianity was also deeply affected by the Tiananmen incident.
I thought of the Panchen Lama. He was kidnapped when he was 6 years old and disappeared with his parents in 1995. He has been forcibly disappeared by the Chinese Communist Party for 31 years. Even today, his whereabouts remain unknown.
There are many lessons to be learned from Tank Man’s moral clarity.
First, Tank Man reminds us that the desire for freedom is deep-rooted. It transcends all differences and serves as a through-line, reminding people everywhere of their common humanity and dignity. That’s why the image of a man staring at a PLA tank remains compelling today – a poignant image seared on our collective conscience.
Second, he reminds us that one person can actually make a difference. He may not have changed a system, but he inspired many others to try. His own bravery should serve as the basis for the moral courage of those of us who have the freedom to advocate for a brighter future for the Chinese people.
Third, there are things you can do today to ensure that Tank Man’s bravery is not in vain. The United States should make a greater, not less, commitment to defending freedom and human rights across China. That means ensuring that ongoing diplomacy between Trump and Xi brings freedom to political prisoners. This means increasing, not decreasing, funding and support for human rights programs across China, providing people with the technical support and training they need to stand up to the CCP. This means ensuring that the U.S. government has the tools and political will necessary to defend religious freedom, combat forced labor, combat the persistence of atrocity crimes, release political prisoners, provide refugees and sanctuary to the most persecuted, and more.
Little is known about the man who bravely looked down at the tank. Even his fate after his courageous abdication has never been confirmed. But he has not been forgotten. In fact, his legacy lives on through brave people across China who dream of a brighter future for themselves and their children.
