Beijing (AFP)

Scenes of chaos in Catalonia, riots in Chile: China takes advantage of violent protests elsewhere in the world to denounce "hypocrisy" of the West, and condemn the pro-democracy movement that has shaken Hong Kong since June.

Friday in Barcelona, ​​a demonstration of support for Catalan independence leaders condemned to heavy prison terms by the Spanish justice has degenerated. And violence between radical militants and law enforcement broke out.

Chile, for its part, is plagued since last week in a social crisis unprecedented for decades. The protest movement, which has spread rapidly throughout the country, has increased in violence and has killed at least 15 people in riots and looting.

For Beijing and the Chinese state media, these events reinforce the idea of ​​a duplicity of the West, which would support the Hong Kong protesters, while condemning the violence occurring at home.

"It is obvious that the Western media and political staff have a double standard vis-à-vis the same violence committed (...) in different countries", denounced Wednesday the official newspaper China Daily in a editorial.

The paper denounces "the hypocrisy" of the European and American press, which invariably qualify protesters in Hong Kong "protesters" and their counterparts in Catalonia and Chile "rioters".

Hong Kong is a former British colony returned to China in 1997 and now an autonomous territory. For nearly five months, he has been through a serious political crisis, with almost daily and often violent demonstrations denouncing Beijing's growing control over the city.

- Blocking and leaflets -

The mobilization, born in June of a controversial Hong Kong bill that was to allow extradition to mainland China, has seen the scope of demands widen in the meantime, especially in the area of ​​democracy.

"In Catalonia, (the protesters) declare publicly that they want a second Hong Kong and that they are inspired by what is happening (there)," said Monday to AFP the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs , Wang Yi.

"I think some people should think about their actions," he said in reference to support for Hong Kong protesters offered by some countries - notably the United States.

In Barcelona, ​​pro-independence activists are openly inspired by the techniques of the protesters in Hong Kong: blocking the airport, translating leaflets used in the Chinese Autonomous Territory, mobilizing in the street as on social networks, using lasers against terrorism. police...

Beijing uses the turmoil in Catalonia to demonstrate that "only with a strong central government and strong law enforcement can the country avoid chaos," said Adam Ni, a specialist in China at the university. Sydney Macquarie.

"The Chinese government basically says, look, what we are doing" to bring calm to Hong Kong "is not that different from what is happening abroad, including in liberal democracies," said Mr. Or.

- 'Hypocritical Cover' -

"Denouncing + Western hypocrisy is a common tactic of the Chinese media, particularly in terms of security and human rights," says Maria Repnikova, a researcher at Oxford University who specializes in China.

Using this strategy, they "also indirectly legitimize a tougher approach to Hong Kong," she says.

On Monday, Beijing had hammered home the voice of a diplomatic spokesman: "Democracy and human rights are just a hypocritical cover of the West to interfere in Hong Kong affairs" assured Hua Chunying.

Subjects that draw parallels between the Hong Kong protests and other events around the world have also flourished in the Chinese state media.

They "have not changed their tone for a month and a half they call violent demonstrations, or riots demanding independence," said Chin Yik Chan, a researcher at Xi'an Jiaotong University. -Liverpool.

But recent examples of troubles abroad have allowed them to "reaffirm their position".

© 2019 AFP