'Hong Kong rioters have infiltrated American states': China hits out at US over George Floyd protests
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The US protest follows months of often violent protests in Hong Kong, particularly since Beijing’s declaration it would impose national security laws on the semi-autonomous region.
The Chinese government and the media have seized on the ongoing protest in the US and compared it with the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and accused Washington of hypocrisy.
Floyd, 46, died on recently after video showed a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes. It touched off outrage that has swept across a politically and racially divided nation in the midst of a polarizing presidential campaign and recently released from strict stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic that threw millions out of work.
The US protest follows months of often violent protests in Hong Kong, particularly since Beijing’s declaration it would impose national security laws on the semi-autonomous region. Trump administration has been very vocal about its support for Hong Kong.
"I can't breathe." pic.twitter.com/UXHgXMT0lk
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) May 30, 2020
After days of chaotic scenes in the US, on Sunday China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying posted “I can’t breathe” – Floyd’s last words – to Twitter, with a screenshot of her American counterpart criticising China’s crackdown on Hong Kong.
Fellow ministry spokesman, Lijian Zhao retweeted numerous comments and reports on the protests, including from Russia’s deputy representative to the UN, accusing the US of double standards. “Why US denies China’s right to restore peace and order in HK while brutally dispersing crowds at home?” said Dmitry Polyanskiy.
State media has also revelled in the scenes of unrest unfolding in the US.
I highly suspect that Hong Kong rioters have infiltrated American states. Attacking police stations, smashing shops,blocking roads, breaking public facilities, these are all routine in their protests. Vicious HK rioters obviously are mastermind of violent protests across the US😡
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) May 31, 2020
“US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi once called the violent protests in Hong Kong ‘a beautiful sight to behold.’… US politicians now can enjoy this sight from their own windows,” Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of nationalist tabloid Global Times, wrote on Saturday.