The decision-makers in this play are all Chinese communist party cadres, and were likely already heavily politically involved at the time of the Tienanmen upris

The decision-makers in this play are all Chinese communist party cadres, and were likely already heavily politically involved at the time of the Tienanmen uprising. Don't forget that many of the party leaders responsible for what's going on in Xinjiang were sent there as a "duty-posting" so they could then move on to higher-level positions back home on the east coast. That's where many of them would have been in 1989. While younger generation raised from 1989 onwards don't know about the events, their parents are certainly aware. Especially, as mentioned, if they were politically active at the time.