The British and European responses to Tiananmen differed significantly from the American response; while Americans wanted to 'slap them down' and punitive measures, the British and Continental Europeans preferred to keep diplomatic doors open and maintain engagement despite the massacre, viewing this as a means to stability.
factualpending
Speaker
David ShambaughEvidence Quote
“The British were not as sort of punitive as Americans wanted to be. You know, we wanted, you know, to slap them down and shame them and castigate them as they deserved. But the British and the Europeans on the continent, interestingly, I learned because I was very involved with the commission, European Commission and others. Europeans had a different reaction to Tian”
Source
Breaking The Engagement: How China Won And Lost America | Hoover Institution— Hoover InstitutionCreated: 8/11/2026, 7:09:14 AM
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