Editor defends China book

By Staff and wire reports

NEW YORK -- The editor of The Tiananmen Papers is rejecting Chinese accusations that the documents behind the book are fabricated.

In an interview with CNN, Andrew Nathan said he agreed with the government's stand that to put forward a fabrication would be futile.

Nathan and co-editor Perry Link compiled The Tiananmen Papers from what are said to be secret transcripts of meetings between top Chinese leaders before they crushed pro-democracy protestors on June 4, 1989.

The editors say the transcripts were smuggled out of China by reformist members of the Communist Party, who were hoping their move would trigger political change.

"It will also be futile to also try and cover up the fact that these documents are real documents", Nathan said.

Nathan believes the papers confirm what analysts already knew about the pro-democracy crackdown, that the Chinese officials were divided over how they felt the protestors should be handled.

"But we get more human detail in-depth, we understand the point of view of all sides, including the hardliners" he said.

A senior official jailed for his part in the pro-democracy crackdown also believed the papers were genuine.

"I have no reason at the moment to say these things are not correct," Bao told the Reuters News Agency.

Transcripts in the book include conversations with the late paramount leader Deng Xiao Ping about the possiblity of house arrest for the leadership.

They also talk of open squabbles between then party leader Zhao Ziyang, and Premier Li Peng.

Zhao remains under house arrest, while Li is now parliament chief.

The Tiananmen Papers is expected to cast a shadow over the reputation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

"Jiang was chosen, not elected, as according to the party's charter. They chose him in part because he was nice to them (party leaders). Jiang treated them very royally. So putting it all together, it's not a powerful reason for having come out as the top man in China," Nathan said.

The Tiananmen Papers was released last weekend.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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