Did a military coup occured in 1989, China?

I just watched a documentary about this on OPB's Frontline, (okay I know that makes me boring.) But I think I know the answer to the question. They interviewed live witnesses, a couple of Americans there that day and several Chinese people who were there (who are now living in the US.)

So when the first army came into Beijing that day, the people talked to them nicely, brought their children out to see them and show them respect, brought them food and water in their trucks, etc. They basically convinced them that they shouldn't do what the government was asking them to do by embracing them, and at the same time asking them, "What if it were your brother or sister or mother?" So they pulled out and went off to a military base.

There was no mention of any firefight between the two armies in the way that you suggest, and I highly doubt that it happened. For one thing, the first army was not equipped with live rounds and there was a significant time lapse between the first army leaving and the other arriving. The second army had a deadline to clear the square by 6am, and they didn't get there until early evening. Apparently they were told not to shoot people, but they were equipped with live ammo, and the kind you'd use in war, not just for restoring civil order. It was pretty clear that the "don't shoot people" order was just to maintain the official innocence on the part of the party leaders.

I wouldn't be surprised however if the second army was eventually sent to the army base where the other army had retreated. Maybe they were told to "restore order" at the base after Tiananmen was "contained" since the first army had refused to obey orders. But that is just conjecture on my part.

I remember it quite well,It was not a Military coup but a military crack down on Pro democracy students..Who can forget the image of the brave demonstrator in front of tanks!
You are right in saying ,more or less,that the Military proceeded with caution,how ever we will never know the true
extent of students( and others)!
You are obvious not writing from main land China as it is known,that censorship is a part of the Internet,in china...I am sorry I can't answer your military question but I'm sure the US government knows it all! Some times even in democracys the truth is hidden from the public!

We don't know what really happen, and it's not all CHina's fault. US news heavily edit what happened.

My opinion was the President of CHina was attempting a Coup and try to use the protestors to gain power. The party bosses reacted by attacking the protestor to prevent the President from succeeding

AS for why the incident occur, Riots rarely happen for the reason stated. There was no Democratic demands, but that was wht US stated as the reason. In Reality, the Riot was to return the country into a more socialist system.

During that time, Northern China was in a severe drought, but Southern CHina was exporting large quantity of food. If you read the report , the South didn't send protestors. In the other hand alot of protestor came from inland North. WHen People's belly are empty they trend to riot.

Also during that time, Deng Xiaping got rid of the iron RIce bowl. That means people who were once guaranteed a job for life was laid off. People from the north was anxious at the change .

Lot of the rioters were angry that in a communist state that people in the south are well fed, while they were starving, and that they are no longer guaranteed a job. They were demanding that the country return to a more socialist system where food is moved where is needed and not sold for profit. That the governmetn must ensure that people will always have a job.

If you look at what is going on in CHina, the party is more afraid of Unrest caused by people in the inland of CHina wanting to return to a more socialist sustem. They are seeing injustice of pay between inland regions and the western regions. They are angry over corruption from moneys made by trade. They are angry over polution caused by corporate greed.

No a military coup did not occur. What happened was troops were sent into Tiananmen square killing some protesters and the others fled.