China Protests US Urge to Reveal Number of Tiananmen Square Victims

BEIJING (Sputnik) — The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction on Saturday with the US urge to reveal the actual number of the Tiananmen Square protests victims.

On Friday, the US State Department said that Washington was concerned with Beijing's human rights violations ahead of the 27 anniversary of the tragic events at the Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, when a protest in the Chinese capital was dispersed by the army, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured, according to official estimates. Human rights activists claim the death toll reaches thousands.

"The Chinese government has issued its final verdict on the political turbulence that took place at the end of the 1980s, as well as other facts relevant to the event… China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition," the ministry's spokesperson, Hua Chunying, said, as quoted by the Xinhua news agency.

Hua added that erroneous statements continuously made by the United States, demonstrate a serious interference in China's internal affairs and violate the basic norms of international relations.

Some 125,000 people reportedly gathered in Hong Kong on Saturday to commemorate the Tiananmen Square protests victims.