Skip to main content

China urges US to stop meddling in its internal affairs

CHINA warned the United States today to stay out of its internal affairs, accusing Washington of using the ongoing protests in Hong Kong to “incite trouble” and promote instability.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged the Trump administration to “immediately stop” making irresponsible remarks about Hong Kong as she answered a question about a so-called “colour revolution” -— a reference to reactionary movements in some former Soviet republics in the 2000s.

Anti-China activists in Hong Kong have begun using the phrase to describe their movement, which began in protest at Chief Executive Carrie Lamb’s proposal for a global extradition Bill.

The legislation would have standardised the legal process, allowing criminals to be returned to countries where their alleged crimes were committed to face trial.

But the proposal was seized on by those associated with the Hong Kong separatist movement and the liberal press, which alleged that the measure was an attempt by China to round up dissidents.

Protests have swept the self-governing territory for the past 10 weeks, with today’s demonstrations grounding aircraft for a second consecutive day. Activists have warned of a heavy-handed response by the authorities.

But Yang Guan, spokesman for the Chinese government’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, condemned rioters for their violent attacks on the police, including the use of petrol bombs.

Speaking in Beijing today, he said: “We express extreme anger and strong condemnation against such atrocious and reckless acts of severe crime.”

Mr Yang accused the small group of radicals of “a tendency of resorting to terrorism,” warning of a “gross trampling on rule of law and order in Hong Kong, a serious threat to residents’ life and safety and a serious challenge to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.”

He said the Chinese government supported the efforts of Hong Kong to bring offenders to justice as quickly as possible.

“The overriding and most pressing task of Hong Kong at present is to stop violence, end the chaos and restore order,” Mr Yang said.

Ms Hua questioned the intentions of US officials, claiming that some had met with the rioters and unjustly criticised the Chinese central government.

She accused Washington of supporting “violence and illegal acts … Hong Kong belongs to China and Hong Kong’s affairs are purely China’s internal ones,” she insisted.

“China urges the United States to abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, and promptly stop meddling in China’s internal affairs.”

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today