China News: Tiananmen Square Massacre 'Correct' Decision, Defense Minister Says

China defense minister on Sunday defended the Chinese government's role in cracking down on protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square 30 years ago, and called the protests political "turbulence," according to reports.

The defense comes just days before the 30th anniversary of the crackdown on June 4.

"Everybody is concerned about Tiananmen after 30 years," China Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said at the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore. "Throughout the 30 years, China under the communist party has undergone many changes – do you think the government was wrong with the handling of June Fourth? There was a conclusion to that incident. The government was decisive in stopping that turbulence"

Fenghe said that China's decision to crack down violently on the protests was "correct" and that "China enjoys stability and development" due to the decision.

The Chinese government rarely mentions the incident, and online information about the crackdown is blocked in China. Demonstrators in 1989 protested for freedom of speech, freedom of speech, government accountability and other democratic values.

In May 1989, the Chinese government declared martial law and sought to stop the protests. On June 4, the Chinese government's troops moved into Tiananmen Square and other public areas of Beijing, killing protestors. The Chinese government has said that 300 people died, but human rights organization Amnesty International claims that number could be as much as 1,000.

Amnesty International released a report on June 1, featuring interviews of activists who survived the crackdown.

"I heard bullets whizz past and people getting shot," Lu Jinghua, one of the protesters at Tiananmen in 1989, said. "One body fell by me and then another. I ran and ran to get out of the way. People were crying out for help, calling out for ambulances. Then another person would die."