‚Go to talk to the demonstrators seriously. Negotiate with them, just like you urged Beijing to talk to Hong Kong rioters‘
Chinese officials and state media needled the Trump administration over race-related protests and looting that have engulfed U. S. cities in recent days, after weathering criticism and threats from Washington over Beijing’s own moves to quell unrest in Hong Kong.
Over the weekend, China’s foreign ministry and state media seized the opportunity to fire back at President Donald Trump. CNN reports that as protesters descended on Washington, Trump was briefly taken to an underground bunker at the White House for his safety.
Chinese propaganda outlets played up scenes from the U. S. of violence, burning buildings, harsh police responses and protesters decrying government as part of a broader narrative that western democracies are regularly plagued by chaos and unrest that would never be permitted in the mainland.
They included foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, who retweeted U. S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus — who had urged people to stand against the Communist Party over its treatment of Hong Kong — and added “I can’t breathe,” some of the last words uttered by Floyd before he died that have become a rallying cry.
Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of China’s Communist-controlled Global Times, ridiculed Trump and other senior U. S. politicians for previously encouraging the protests in Hong Kong. He wrote on Twitter:
“Mr President, don’t go hide behind the secret service. Go to talk to the demonstrators seriously. Negotiate with them, just like you urged Beijing to talk to Hong Kong rioters.”
Mr. President, don’t hide behind the Secret Service.
