This year marks the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, also known as the “June 4th” incident. As the anniversary approaches, the state-run CCTV in China unexpectedly displayed the sensitive number “8964” on the screen during a news broadcast, sparking discussions among netizens. Some online users commented that even though it might be a coincidence, it could still signify something significant.
On April 25th, a screenshot from overseas platform X started circulating online, capturing a segment from CCTV’s “News Broadcast” at the 18 minutes and 55 seconds mark. The content boasted about the growth in transportation indicators in the first quarter by the Chinese Communist Party. Of particular note was the mention of the port container throughput reaching a staggering 89.64 million TEUs. The authenticity of this information was verified by Epoch Times.
This incident has stirred up heated discussions among netizens who believe that something significant is happening. Comments such as: “This sensitive number should not have appeared. Someone at CCTV is stirring things up,” and “It’s not a coincidence, someone intentionally let it pass,” reflect the sentiments of many. Regardless of whether it was a coincidence, some view it as a sign from above. The crimes and historical truths of the Chinese Communist Party cannot be concealed forever. If it was a coincidence, then it’s too much of a coincidence. The editor responsible for this segment is likely to face repercussions from the CCP.
There were posts suspected to be from government-paid internet commentators mocking those who are overly sensitive to these numbers. However, since the mass killing of students by the Chinese Communist Party on June 4, 1989, content related to the “June 4th” incident has indeed become a restricted zone online, and individuals have been punished for inadvertently violating such restrictions.
On June 3, 2022, the day before the annual commemoration of “June 4th,” a prominent mainland China live-streaming host known as “Lipstick King” Li Jiaqi, had his live broadcast abruptly terminated when he presented an ice cream cake that resembled a tank. He disappeared from the public eye thereafter and only re-emerged more than three months later. Speculations suggest that this might have been related to the CCP’s stability maintenance around the “June 4th” event.
Additionally, on March 28, 2024, Li Shufu, the chairman of Geely Group, invited Yu Minhong, the CEO of New Oriental Education & Technology Group, for a live promotional broadcast for a new car. During an interview segment with Yu Minhong, Li Shufu mentioned the “June 4th” incident when discussing his entrepreneurial journey. He recalled the establishment of a refrigerator factory at the time, mentioning that they couldn’t produce anymore after “June 4th” due to the government’s takeover of the factory.
“Before ‘June 4th,’ our refrigerator brand was called ‘Polar Blossom’,” Li Shufu explained. “However, everything came to a halt after ‘June 4th.’ Once the factory stopped operations, everything was handed over to the government.”
Following this revelation, Li Shufu’s live broadcast was temporarily suspended.