I wanted to point out that the authoritarian left usually argues that the man prevented the tanks from leaving. But while looking it up I had to notice there are even more layers to it:
Harunobu Kato, a Japanese NHK journalist who covered the Tiananmen Square protests on-site, argues that the incident involving the Tank Man was staged by the Chinese Communist Party.
It’s an interesting theory and certainly plausible.
It has been suggested that the “Unknown Rebel”, if still alive, may be unaware of his international recognition.
It blows my mind that this guy (assuming Kato’s theory is incorrect) could still be alive and have no idea that he’s one of the world’s most famous people. Or could have died not knowing it.
…Tianamen Square was a protest in large part against opening China up to Capitalism. Hence these unionists on motorcycles.