Washington, D.C. –
Beginning in April 1989, tens of thousands of students took to Beijing’s streets in protest to the political status quo in China. This sparked weeks of upheaval. Due to the unrest, DIA’s analysts focused on China’s internal security situation and political-military dynamics. Throughout the 1980’s, DIA and its Defense Attaché Office in Beijing were in a unique position to witness the internal struggle between conservatives and reformers in all realms of Chinese society.
USDAO Beijing prepositioned assets in key locations across the city days and weeks in advance, which enabled them to conduct extensive intelligence gathering operations. Eyewitness observations and judgments from various locations throughout the city yielded more than 40 “major significant” intelligence reports—the highest rating possible. These reports were the principal basis for national level policy decisions by the United States Government. Members of USDAO Beijing labored under considerable personal risk to evacuate over 700 United States citizens to safety when the city fell under martial law.
While receiving a post-Tiananmen briefing in the Pentagon on the state of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), United States Ambassador to China James Lilley praised DIA analysts and the DAO for maintaining a balanced and realistic perspective on the PLA.