China Blasts US Over Call For Tiananmen Death Toll

China lashed out at the United States on Monday after Washington marked the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen protests by urging Beijing to disclose how many people were killed in the crackdown.

This comes as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement to "remember the tragic loss of innocent lives" on June 4, 1989, when the Communist Party sent tanks to quash the peaceful demonstrations around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

The foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing has lodged an official diplomatic protest with the United States.

"The Chinese government has already come to a clear conclusion regarding the political disturbances that occurred in the late 1980s," Hua told a regular press briefing.

Pompeo's statement is "groundlessly accusing the Chinese government and interfering in China's internal affairs. The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes this," Hua said.

"We urge the US to abandon prejudice, correct mistakes, stop irresponsible remarks, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and do more to develop Sino-US relations instead of doing things to undermine" them, she said.