Are the Tiananmen Papers fake?
These papers are purportedly explosive records of private meetings and private discussions of Chinese leaders during the Tiananmen protests in the spring of 1989.
They contain discussions to crush the rioters and protesters.
They were smuggled out to the US by a ‘compiler’ according to the editors of this book who met him. [p 618, 2002 paperback ed].
The editors are convinced the papers are genuine, considering themselves seasoned China Hands.
History is littered with many fake letters or diaries presented as written by famous persons.
The famous 1914 book, China under the Empress Dowager, written by Sir Edmund Backhouse with JOP Bland, was presented as based on a genuine diary from a servant of the Dowager.
The diary was, actually, a fake. The two writers knew they were using a fake diary. But the reading public was fooled for more than 20 years.
So, are the Tiananmen Papers genuine?