The best response that compares how international events affected the responses of East Germany’s and China’s governments to the protests of 1989 is:
The protests in East Germany in 1989 were part of a larger trend of successes in anti-communist activism in neighboring countries, making it harder for the government to continue to deny citizens’ civil rights. China was more isolated from this larger trend so its government was able to assert firmer control over protests.
This option effectively highlights the differing contexts of the two countries: East Germany was influenced by regional anti-communist movements, leading to pressure for reform, while China, being more isolated, was able to maintain tighter control over its population.