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CHINA has urged the US to “keep to its word” on the Hong Kong issue after President Donald Trump appeared to threaten Beijing in the ongoing trade war.
New talks will take place between the pair in a bid to reach a deal that would bring an end to the escalating tariff war instigated by Mr Trump, it was announced on Sunday.
Hours after the announcement the US president warned that China’s approach to the protests could potentially influence the outcome of negotiations with President Xi Xinping.
“It would be much harder for me to sign a deal if he did something violent in Hong Kong,” he said.
Previously Mr Trump has suggested that China has a right to restore order in Hong Kong which has seen weeks of violent protest, with attacks on police and damage to property.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang insisted at a news briefing that Hong Kong affairs are entirely China’s concern.
“President Trump said previously that ‘Hong Kong is a part of China. They’ll have to deal with that themselves. They don’t need advice.’ We hope the US side will keep its word,” he said.
Mr Geng added: “The demonstrations and violence in Hong Kong have lasted for more than two months, and the rule of law, social order, economy and people’s livelihood, stability and international image of Hong Kong have been severely impacted.
“It turns out that absent the rule of law and order, the so-called ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ have only led to anarchism and social disorder, and have ultimately damaged the interests of the general public.”
He said Hong Kong’s most “urgent and overriding task at present is to stop the riots and restore order in accordance with the law.”
China’s central government said it supports Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam’s efforts to bring perpetrators of violence to justice.