Police patrol Tiananmen Square with dogs. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images.)\
[People News] Twenty-five years ago, on January 23, 2001, a winter day when the entire city was blanketed in snow and the cold was biting to the bone, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) fabricated in Tiananmen Square in Beijing a major incident that shocked the world, was horrifying to behold, and harmed both others and itself—the Tiananmen self-immolation hoax.
This incident was hyped extensively by CCP Party media and poisoned countless people at home and abroad who did not know the truth, producing extremely serious consequences.
Today, twenty-six years later, there are still some people who are not very clear about the causes and consequences of this farce and ugly drama that the CCP wrote, directed, and staged itself. Therefore, it is necessary here to once again clarify the truth of this incident.
I. Why did the CCP fabricate the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax”?
The background of this “hoax” is as follows: on July 20, 1999, CCP dictator Jiang Zemin, because too many people were practicing Falun Gong and he feared it would threaten his power, mobilized the entire state apparatus and launched the persecution of Falun Gong.
Jiang Zemin believed that he held in his own hands the highest powers of the Party, government, and military, that all propaganda machines and coercive apparatuses were under his control, and that there was ample money in the state treasury. As long as Falun Gong was “smeared in reputation, cut off economically, and physically destroyed or even eliminated,” Falun Gong could be “eradicated” in a very short time.
However, what Jiang Zemin never expected was that by January 2001, after half a year had passed, he had exhausted all the methods he could think of, yet not only had he failed to bring down Falun Gong, but on the contrary, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, and even more Falun Gong practitioners stepped forward one after another to clarify to the CCP authorities the truth that “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” to speak out for Falun Gong and seek justice for it, with unstoppable momentum.
What to do?
To fabricate a major incident with strong visual impact, frame Falun Gong, incite hatred against Falun Gong, and then apply all high-pressure measures—this might achieve the effect of “eradicating Falun Gong.”
The group persecuting Falun Gong headed by Jiang Zemin decided to write, direct, and stage a “Falun Gong practitioners’ self-immolation case.” How could maximum propaganda effect be achieved? They carried out meticulous planning in advance:
They chose a special time—January 23, 2001, Chinese New Year’s Eve, the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, a day for family reunions and reunion dinners;
They chose a special place—Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the central square of the CCP’s political center, watched by all the people of China and the whole world;
They chose a group of distinctive “actors”—men and women, old and young, including a young girl in the bloom of youth, to play the roles of Falun Gong practitioners;
They chose a particularly heartrending storyline—five men and women setting themselves on fire with gasoline in Tiananmen Square; on the vast white snow there were raging flames and billowing smoke; there were special police in black uniforms running, armed police in dark green uniforms chasing; additionally, one man and one woman “failed” in their self-immolation attempt and were caught red-handed by the police, leaving behind “confessions”;
They chose a special filming team—within the footage there were close-ups, long shots, close-up detail shots, sound, color, and people holding fire-extinguishing blankets to cooperate with the filming, and so on;
They chose a special team to “package” it—professional personnel from China Central Television specially edited, arranged, and composited the footage, and then added extremely inciting narration.
After the video of the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax” was produced, the CCP authorities not only broadcast it repeatedly on the CCP’s most important mouthpiece media—China Central Television—but also made it into videos that were played over and over again in detention centers, reeducation-through-labor camps, brainwashing centers, prisons, and other places across the country where Falun Gong practitioners were held; it was also shown in Chinese embassies and consulates around the world and among overseas Chinese communities controlled by the CCP.
II. Where is the falsity of the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax”?
After the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax” was concocted, all the CCP’s most important media, including China Central Television, carried out endless coverage, poisoning the minds of hundreds of millions of Chinese people, inciting hatred against Falun Gong among many people who did not know the truth, intensifying the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, and causing extremely bad effects at home and abroad.
Where exactly is the falsity of the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax”? Limited by space, just six points are sufficient to explain the problem:
First, Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, clearly and explicitly states in the first subheading, “The Issue of Killing,” of Lecture Seven of Zhuan Falun, the main guiding book of Falun Gong: “The issue of killing is very sensitive. For practitioners, our requirements are relatively strict; practitioners must not kill.”
Mr. Li Hongzhi also states clearly and explicitly in Teaching the Fa at the Sydney Fa Conference: “Suicide is a sin.”
Accordingly, among genuine Falun Gong practitioners worldwide, not a single one commits suicide, nor is there a single one who kills others.
Second, anyone with common sense knows that when gasoline ignites, it can reach temperatures of over 500 degrees Celsius. Experiments have been conducted: if a plastic bottle containing gasoline is ignited, after 5 seconds the bottle begins to soften, after 7 seconds it shrinks and deforms, and after 10 seconds it shrinks into a small lump.
The “self-immolator” Wang Jindong burned for 40 seconds after being ignited with gasoline before the flames on his body were extinguished. His clothes were “burned” through, his face and hands were “burned,” yet the emerald-green plastic bottle containing gasoline, clamped between his legs, remained completely intact. How is that possible?
Third, the “self-immolator” Liu Chunling did not die from burns but was beaten to death.
The CCP claimed that Liu Chunling was burned to death on the spot. However, analysis of the slow-motion footage broadcast by China Central Television’s Focus Interview revealed that she was beaten to death by a tall, burly armed police officer wearing glasses and a military overcoat, who swung a heavy object at her.
A witness who was present later described what he saw at the time:
“On the day of the ‘self-immolation incident,’ after lunch I went to Tiananmen Square as usual for a stroll. As I was nearing the Monument, I saw a large pile of fire extinguishers placed under the stone steps and thought, ‘Something is going to happen!’ As I walked and watched, before long I saw fire break out to the north. I ran quickly northward with several police officers. When I arrived, I happened to see a burly military policeman swing a portable fire extinguisher and violently strike the back of the head of a woman whose entire body was enveloped in aerosol and smoke. The woman fell to the ground immediately. Because the attacker used too much force, the handle of the fire extinguisher broke off and flew southward into the air after leaving his hand. I was shocked—wasn’t this killing someone? None of the military or police at the scene questioned this hulking man at all, and he was allowed to leave at leisure. I felt a chill run down my spine and understood eight or nine tenths of the truth.”
Fourth, Liu Chunling was not a Falun Gong practitioner.
After the “self-immolation incident,” The Washington Post’s Beijing correspondent Philip P. Pan went specifically to Liu Chunling’s hometown of Kaifeng City, Henan Province, to interview and investigate whether Liu Chunling was truly a Falun Gong practitioner.
On February 4, 2001, The Washington Post published on its front page his investigative article titled “Human Fire Ignites Chinese Mystery.” He wrote that before her death Liu Chunling “worked in a nightclub, beat her adoptive mother and young daughter, and no one ever saw her practice Falun Gong.”
A report by Xinhua News Agency of the CCP stated: “Neighbor Wen Jinxiang once saw her (referring to Liu Chunling) beating her adoptive mother with high-heeled shoes. Last October, Liu Chunling completely drove her 78-year-old adoptive mother out of the home.”
Falun Gong requires practitioners to strictly guide themselves by “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” and to be good people everywhere. How could a genuine Falun Gong practitioner possibly “beat her adoptive mother and young daughter”? How could she possibly drive a 78-year-old adoptive mother out of the house?
Precisely because Liu Chunling was not a Falun Gong practitioner, this may be the reason she was beaten to death in Tiananmen Square. The CCP authorities may have planned in advance to “kill to silence” this nightclub woman.
Fifth, the 12-year-old girl Liu Siying, who “self-immolated,” regained the ability to speak only four days after undergoing a tracheotomy and intubation surgery in the hospital, could accept an interview by CCTV reporter Li Yuqiang, and could even sing. This does not conform to medical common sense.
Medical experts say there are three methods of tracheal intubation: through the mouth, through the nose, and via tracheotomy. The first two methods must pass through the vocal cords to enter the trachea, and the patient is absolutely unable to produce sound. For tracheotomy intubation, the incision is usually between the third and fourth tracheal rings, below the vocal cords (the sound-producing organ). For a 12-year-old pediatric patient, it is difficult to speak in the early postoperative period, because breathing airflow mainly passes between the tracheal tube and the outside, with little or no airflow passing through the vocal cords.
After reading Xinhua’s report, a Western physician in the United States said: “After a tracheotomy, it is absolutely impossible for a person to regain the ability to speak in such a short time. Either Xinhua is lying, or it is creating a medical miracle.”
Sixth, the mysterious death of Liu Siying, possibly “killed to silence her.”
Liu Siying was Liu Chunling’s daughter. Xinhua’s report stated that Liu Siying was able to speak and sing four days after the tracheotomy surgery, indicating that she was recovering very well.
Xinhua’s report stated that less than half an hour after the self-immolation incident, Liu Siying and others were sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. “The hospital established a treatment team composed of renowned burn specialists. During the two months of treatment, burn experts and nurses worked day and night, sparing no effort to save her life.” That is to say, Liu Siying received the best possible treatment.
However, on March 17, 2001, the 53rd day after her hospitalization, Liu Siying suddenly died.
Liu Siying was only 12 years old. On the fourth day after surgery, when she accepted an interview with CCTV reporter Li Yuqiang, she spoke quite a bit and even sang. How could she lose her life after only 53 days in the hospital? Isn’t that extremely abnormal?
On January 23, 2001, Liu Siying’s mother Liu Chunling was beaten to death. On March 17, 2001, Liu Siying, who had been recovering well and receiving the best treatment, suddenly died. In light of the key fact that “Liu Chunling was not a Falun Gong practitioner,” I have reason to suspect that Liu Siying was “made to die.”
The CCP authorities may have worried that Liu Siying was too young and might one day inadvertently let slip the truth that her mother did not practice Falun Gong, embarrassing the CCP. So they decided to finish the job once and for all and silence her forever.
III. What are the evil consequences of the CCP’s fabrication of the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax”?
The CCP fabricated the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax” with Falun Gong as its target. So what exactly is Falun Gong?
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a high-level Buddhist cultivation practice. It was introduced on May 13, 1992, by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun City in northeastern China. Because of its remarkable effects in curing illness, improving health, and purifying mind and body, it quickly spread throughout China’s 32 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, and then to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and many countries and regions across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia.
In December 1992, Mr. Li Hongzhi was invited to participate in the Oriental Health Expo held in Beijing. Li Songru, the chief organizer of the expo, said: “The first letter of commendation received at the expo praised Falun Gong, and Falun Gong also received the greatest number of commendation letters.” Professor Jiang Xuegui, the chief consultant of the expo, said: “I personally witnessed Mr. Li Hongzhi create many miracles for this expo. Falun Gong truly deserves to be the star practice of the expo. As the chief consultant of the expo, I responsibly recommend Falun Gong to everyone.”
In December 1993, Mr. Li Hongzhi again led disciples to participate in the Oriental Health Expo, receiving the expo’s highest award, the “Edge Science Progress Award,” a “Special Gold Award,” and the title of “Most Popular Qigong Master,” becoming the qigong master who received the most awards.
As of today in 2026, Falun Gong has been widely spread for 34 years and has reached 156 countries and regions around the world, receiving heartfelt welcome and appreciation from people of all walks of life regardless of national borders, political parties, race, language, profession, education, seniority, wealth, cultural background, or religious belief.
Ms. Hu, who teaches at an elementary school in Kinmen, Taiwan, was selected in 2014 as a “Special Outstanding Teacher” of Kinmen County. When she went on stage to receive the award, facing hundreds of officials from the education sector, Ms. Hu said: “From my shy nature to having the courage to stand on this stage, it is all because I met a great master when I was in college. He taught me to be selfless, to put others before myself. He is the benefactor of my life. He is the founder of Falun Dafa—Teacher Li Hongzhi. Taking this opportunity of Teachers’ Day, I want to say: ‘Teacher Li, thank you!’ In addition, the fact that the students I guided won first place in the physics category of the Kinmen Science Exhibition three times is also entirely due to the miracles that occurred after I practiced Falun Dafa and used the principles of ‘Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance’ to discipline myself and guide my students.” “To be able to loudly express my gratitude to Master Li Hongzhi on such an occasion is an incomparable honor.”
Moldovan female judge Tatyana wrote: “All the gold in the world cannot measure our gratitude to Master Li Hongzhi. We thank Master for saving lives in today’s chaotic and uneasy era. Master’s boundless compassion will be forever treasured in our hearts. The wide spread of Falun Dafa in human society will leave an eternal model for generations to come.”
I began practicing Falun Gong on May 3, 1995, and have practiced for 31 years to date—20 years in China and 11 years in the United States. From personal cultivation practice, I and tens of millions of genuine Falun Gong practitioners around the world have realized that Falun Dafa brings hundreds of benefits and not a single harm to the nation and the people; Falun Dafa is a righteous Great Law, a Great Law of high virtue, and a great Buddha Law that appears only once in a thousand or ten thousand years.
By fabricating the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax,” framing Falun Gong, and inciting hatred against Falun Gong, the CCP has not only intensified the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, but has also sown in the hearts of hundreds of millions of Chinese people the poison of hatred toward the Buddha Law. When a person’s heart is filled with hatred toward the Buddha Law, what will he do? What will be his end?
Traditional Chinese culture teaches that hating the Buddha Law, slandering the Buddha Law, and persecuting practitioners of the Buddha Law are crimes without bounds; what is the ultimate outcome? Eternal damnation.
The CCP’s fabrication of the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax” is a deliberate and malicious use of its propaganda tools to harm others, itself, and future generations on a massive scale!
Since 2001, those who, believing the lies instilled by the CCP about the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax,” have hated Falun Gong and actively participated in the persecution of Falun Gong—from the highest levels to the grassroots, from inside China to abroad, from officials to hired thugs—have suffered retribution case after case, numbering in the thousands upon thousands, with painful and shocking lessons.
Conclusion
The CCP fabricated the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax” with the aim of “eradicating Falun Gong.” However, to this day, Falun Gong has not been eradicated; instead, it stands firm in the world and is widely spread across the five continents and the four seas.
After the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax” emerged, New Tang Dynasty Television produced the documentary False Fire, which, through slow-motion analysis of CCTV footage, used common sense, reason, and logic to expose the self-immolation scam point by point. (False Fire Chinese-language video)
If you still do not understand the “Tiananmen self-immolation hoax,” it is recommended that you carefully watch the documentary False Fire and seriously learn the truth. Choose goodness and follow it—there is no greater virtue than that.
—The Epoch Times
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