Their goal was to poison peoples minds, to create turmoil throughout the country, to destroy political stability and unity.' As the official conspiracy theory developed, the authorities charged that the students were being manipulated by outside elements' with ulterior motives.' This meant, first of all, dissident Chinese workers and (to a lesser extent) intellectuals, and second,
Coreign reactionaries.' This line of analysis was upheld during the military crackdown of June 3-4, and it underpins the repression that continues to this day.