Editing Zhao Ziyang (section)

===Speech to students===
Shortly before 5&nbsp;am on 19 May, Zhao appeared in Tiananmen Square and wandered among the crowd of protesters. Using a [[megaphone]], he delivered a now-famous speech to the students gathered at the square. It was first broadcast through [[China Central Television]] nationwide, and reported on by the [[Xinhua News Agency]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Kristof|first1=Nicholas D.|last2=Times|first2=Special To the New York|date=19 May 1989|title=CHINESE PREMIER ISSUES A WARNING TO THE PROTESTERS|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/19/world/chinese-premier-issues-a-warning-to-the-protesters.html|access-date=29 June 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Below is a translated version:

{{Blockquote|text=Students, we came too late. We are sorry. You talk about us, criticize us, it is all necessary. The reason that I came here is not to ask for your forgiveness. What I want to say is that you are all getting weak, it has been seven days since you went on a hunger strike, you can't continue like this. As time goes on, your body will be damaged beyond repair, it could be very life-threatening. Now the most important thing is to end this strike. I know, your hunger strike is to hope that the Party and the government will give you a satisfying answer. I feel that our communication is open. Some of these problems can only be solved through certain procedures. For example, you have mentioned the nature of the incident, the question of responsibility; I feel that those problems can be resolved eventually, we can reach a mutual agreement in the end. However, you should also know that the situation is very complicated, it is going to be a long process. You can't continue the hunger strike longer than seven days, and still insist on receiving a satisfying answer before ending the hunger strike.

You are still young, we are old, you must live healthy, and see the day when China accomplishes the [[Four Modernizations]]. Unlike you, '''we are already old, and do not matter.''' It is not easy for this nation and your parents to support your college studies. Now you are all about 20, and about to sacrifice your lives so easily. Students, can't you think rationally? Now the situation is very serious, you all know, the Party and the nation is very anxious, and our society is very worried. Besides, Beijing is the capital, the situation is getting worse and worse everywhere, this cannot continue. Students, you all have good will, and are for the good of our nation, but if this situation continues, loses control, it will have serious consequences elsewhere.

In conclusion, I have only one wish. If you stop this hunger strike, the government won't close the door for dialogue, never! The questions that you have raised, we can continue to discuss. Although it is a little slow, we are reaching some agreement on some problems. Today I just want to see the students, and express our feelings. I hope students could think about these issues calmly. This situation cannot be sorted out clearly under illogical circumstances. You all have that strength, you are young, after all. We were also young once, we protested, laid our bodies on the rail tracks; we never thought about what will happen in the future back then. Finally, I beg the students, once again, to think about the future calmly. There are many things that can be solved. I hope that you will all end the hunger strike soon, thank you.|author=Zhao Ziyang<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theasiamag.com/cheat-sheet/zhao-ziyangs-tiananmen-square-speech |title=Zhao Ziyang's Tiananmen Square speech |last=Chua |first=Dan-Chyi |date=February 2009 |periodical=Asia! Magazine |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716222958/http://www.theasiamag.com/cheat-sheet/zhao-ziyangs-tiananmen-square-speech|archive-date=2011-07-16|access-date=23 June 2009 }}; also available in the original Chinese at {{cite web |url=http://www.chengmingmag.com/t285/select/285sel06.html |title=Cheng Ming Magazine articles |access-date=23 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523155929/http://www.chengmingmag.com/t285/select/285sel06.html |archive-date=23 May 2009}} (broken link)</ref>}}

After a bow, people began to applaud and some students burst into tears. That was Zhao's last public appearance, for Zhao had been ousted by party elders just before coming to the square.{{Sfn|Pan|2008|p=4–5}} The phrase "We are already old, and do not matter" ({{lang|zh-hans|我们已经老了，无所谓}}) and Zhao's speech, have since become a well known part of the protests.<ref>{{Cite news|title=他是一名中国的改革先锋，但政权却要忘记他|language=zh-hans|work=[[BBC News]] 中文|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-46977041|access-date=29 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|date=18 June 2009|title=Top 10 Quotes of 1989|language=en-US|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1905167_1905168_1905156,00.html|access-date=29 June 2021|issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Zhao Ziyang|url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/special/ZhaoZiyang/Home.html|access-date=29 June 2021|website=[[Radio Free Asia]]}}</ref> What motivated Zhao's visit remains, even today, a topic of debate. According to [[Wu Guoguang]], Zhao's former speechwriter, some say he went into the square hoping a conciliatory gesture would gain him leverage against hard-liners like Premier Li Peng. Others believe he supported the protesters and misjudged the risk of breaking with the leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wu|first=Guoguang|author-link=Wu Guoguang|date=29 April 2002|title=The Sacrifice That Made a Leader|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/zhao.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612084206/http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/heroes/zhao.html|archive-date=12 June 2009|access-date=30 June 2021|website=[[TIME Magazine]]}}</ref>