Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The burning anger across America is pushing Trump closer to a cold war with China

Beijing has taken great glee in pointing out the US reaction to the George Floyd protests in comparison to how those in Hong Kong were met, writes Kim Sengupta

Monday 01 June 2020 15:06 BST
Comments

From calling the protests in Minneapolis “a beautiful sight to behold”, to warning Donald Trump “not to hide” and using the phrase “I can’t breathe”, the messages being pushed in China’s media by government officials and supporters gleefully taunt the US condemnation of Beijing over demonstrations in Hong Kong as violent strife spread across America.

The editor of the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece, the Global Times newspaper, reminded its readers that Nancy Pelosi, House of Representatives speaker, described the pro-democracy marches in Hong Kong as a “beautiful sight” adding “US politicians now can enjoy this sight from their own windows”. Hu Xijn, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, also advised the US president: “Don’t go hide behind the secret service... go to talk to the demonstrators, negotiate... just like you urged Beijing to talk to Hong Kong rioters.”

“I can’t breathe” – the words of the dying George Floyd as a policeman knelt on his neck – was posted by China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman over a screenshot of a tweet from her US state department counterpart, Morgan Ortag, about events in Hong Kong.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in