Final answer:
Deng Xiaoping's response to the Tiananmen Square protests culminated in the use of military force against protestors, resulting in many deaths in the crackdown, after which he condemned the demonstrations as a riot and an attempt to overthrow the government.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addressing the student's question regarding how Deng Xiaoping responded to the Tiananmen Square protests, it is essential to consider the context and actions taken. Deng Xiaoping, the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China at the time, initially called for political reforms and criticized the country's bureaucracy. Despite advocating for reform, Deng was against any opposition to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ruling, steadfastly supporting the one-party system.
The demands for democratic reform, transparency, and an end to corruption sparked the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. A profusion of students, intellectuals, and urban workers were influenced by external calls for democracy and reform, leveraging the mood created by the downfall of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe. However, when peaceful demonstrations transformed into an outright call for democratic freedoms, Deng Xiaoping and the CCP leaders considered it a direct challenge to their authority.
The final stage of these protests saw a cataclysmic response from Deng's government. On June 3 and 4, troops armed with rifles and accompanied by tanks moved into Tiananmen Square—the heart of the protest. This escalation tragically culminated in what is widely known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Hundreds to possibly thousands of protestors were killed as the military forcibly cleared out the square. Following this crackdown, on June 9, Deng publicly condemned the protests as a 'riot' that was tantamount to a rebellion against the party and the Chinese state.