The Tank Man
April 11, 2006
1h 24m
17 years later, what does he mean for a China that today has become a global economic powerhouse?
The Tank Man
April 11, 2006
1h 24m
Share
On June 5, 1989, one day after Chinese troops expelled thousands of demonstrators from Tiananmen Square in Beijing, a solitary, unarmed protester stood his ground before a column of tanks advancing down the Avenue of Eternal Peace. Captured by Western photographers watching nearby, this extraordinary confrontation became an icon of the fight for freedom around the world. FRONTLINE investigates the mystery of the tank man — his identity, his fate, and his significance for the Chinese leadership. [Explore more stories on the original website for The Tank Man.]
Produced by
Transcript
Credits
Journalistic Standards
Support provided by:
Learn More
Most Watched
The FRONTLINE Newsletter
Related Stories
Remembering the Tiananmen Square Crackdown, and the “Tank Man”
The 30th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Marked by Repression, Nationalism
Timeline: What Led to the Tiananmen Square Massacre
How China Has Changed Since Tiananmen Square
Why Photos of Tiananmen Square’s “Tank Man” Were Hidden in a Hotel Toilet
Related Stories
Remembering the Tiananmen Square Crackdown, and the “Tank Man”
The 30th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Marked by Repression, Nationalism
Timeline: What Led to the Tiananmen Square Massacre
How China Has Changed Since Tiananmen Square
Why Photos of Tiananmen Square’s “Tank Man” Were Hidden in a Hotel Toilet
Policies
Teacher Center
Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation
Koo and Patricia Yuen
FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Web Site Copyright ©1995-2025 WGBH Educational Foundation. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; Park Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Web Site Copyright ©1995-2025 WGBH Educational Foundation. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
