China’s Government has tried hard over the years to obliterate the memory of the huge student-led protests that shook the Communist Party and captivated the world for weeks.

An official reacted angrily on Thursday to a call by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for a full public accounting of the incident.

“The US action makes groundless accusations against the Chinese Government,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman, told reporters at a regular briefing. “We express strong dissatisfaction.”

President of Taiwan Ma Ying-jeou who has fostered closer ties with the mainland, also urged China to confront the episode. “This painful period of history must be faced with courage and cannot be intentionally ducked,” he said.

The remarks contrasted with the public silence throughout China. There was no mention of the day’s significance in Thursday’s Beijing newspapers. The state-run mass-circulation China Daily led with a story about job growth signaling China’s economic recovery.