China alleges US' hand in Hong Kong protests
Beijing: China on Tuesday stepped up its attack on the US over the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, alleging America's hand behind the mass demonstrations in the financial hub.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also questioned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent remarks that China should "do the right thing" in dealing with protests in Hong Kong and said the top American diplomat still believes he is the CIA chief.
Hong Kong has been witnessing a violent mass outrage with thousands taking to streets against the government's plan to allow extraditions to the Communist nation.
Weighing its options including deployment of troops to deal with growing pro-democracy protests in the former British colony, China has been accusing Western countries and politicians of stirring unrest in the financial hub in hopes of creating difficulties for China's overall development.
"I wonder does he hoped that those violent protesters who are attacking the police with iron batons can go to the US and show how democratic the US is," Hua said, referring to Pompeo's comments.
"I believe Pompeo is not putting himself in a right position. I am afraid he still believes he is the CIA chief. He thinks the violent behaviours in Hong Kong are reasonable because the US also contributed to that," she said. Pompeo was the former director of the CIA before his appointment as Secretary of State.
"There have been many American faces in the protests in Hong Kong, and even some American flags," Hua added.
Hua's allegation of the US' hand in the protests came even as top US and Chinese trade officials met in Shanghai for the 12th round of talks to end the trade war between the two countries under which they slapped tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of goods being traded between the two countries.
Giving a "recap" of the recent event in Hong Kong, Hua said, "at the end of the February and beginning of March the US Consul General in Hong Kong criticised the amendment (for the extradition bill) and interfered in internal affairs."
