In 1989, student-led demonstrations took place in Beijing, China – commonly referred to as the Tiananmen Square protests. Set against the backdrop of socio-economic and political change, the protests called for democracy, greater press freedom and freedom of speech. Thirty years on, state censorship is an increasing concern in China once more as the government uses new tactics to restrict speech, including the new social credit system.

Taking the anniversary of Tiananmen Square as a starting point, join Jeff Wasserstrom, professor of history (specialising in China) at the University of California and Tania Branigan, foreign leader writer for the Guardian and its former China correspondent, for a discussion moderated by Index on Censorship magazine editor Rachael Jolley to explore some of today’s most pressing issues in China past and present.

 

*If you are external to King’s and would like to attend this event, please sign up via Eventbrite or contact the event organiser.