China denounced on Monday the "chronic disease" of racism in the United States, following the death of George Floyd. The unrest in several American cities is a sign of "the gravity of the problem of racism and police violence in the United States," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in the press. The latter made the connection between the violence in the United States and that which shook last year the semi-autonomous Chinese region of Hong Kong, in reaction to the influence of Beijing in the former British colony. "Why does the United States treat the supporters of Hong Kong's violence and so-called independence as heroes, while calling those who denounce racism 'rioters'? "He asked himself.
This attack comes in a climate of extreme tension between the two countries. During the same press conference, China promised a "counter-attack" in the United States after the announcements of the American president. On Friday, Donald Trump said that the United States was suspending the entry into its territory of Chinese nationals presenting a potential "risk" for the security of the country. Trump has also called on his administration to end the preferential trade measures granted to Hong Kong, to denounce a controversial national security law imposed by Beijing in its autonomous territory. He also asked his collaborators to investigate Chinese companies listed in the United States.
"Cold War mentality"
"Any words or actions that harm China's interests will be met with a firm counterattack," said Zhao Lijian. This is Beijing's first reaction since the measures announced on Friday by the tenant of the White House. It occurs against a backdrop of strong bilateral tensions around Covid-19, the situation of Uighur Muslims in northwest China and trade
"China urges the United States to immediately remedy these mistakes and abandon its Cold War mentality," Zhao Lijian said at a press conference. The climate has been explosive between Beijing and Washington for several months, the Trump administration regularly accusing the Chinese government of the spread on the planet of the new coronavirus.
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