China slams US attempt to conceal HK interference

The Foreign Ministry on Friday rejected the United States' labeling of China as "a thuggish regime", saying that Washington has confused right with wrong in an attempt to conceal its interference in China's domestic affairs.

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement it was astonishing to see the US State Department spokeswoman claim that it was the job of US diplomats to meddle in the domestic affairs of other countries. "Can the world be at peace given the way the US does things?" Hua asked.

Hua's comments came as US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus on Thursday called China a "thuggish regime" for disclosing the photographs and personal details of a US diplomat who met with major leaders of the "Hong Kong independence" activists.

The US State Department spokeswoman should repent of her own words and behavior instead of using media reports to hit out at the government of another country, Hua said. She added that US interference in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's affairs has caused resolute opposition and strong indignation among the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots.

She urged the US to observe international laws and basic norms governing international relations and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China's domestic affairs.

Also on Friday, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR denounced Ortagus' claims as a blatant slander against China, saying the remarks once again exposed US "gangster logic" and "hegemonic thinking".

The US State Department spokesperson seems to take it for granted that it is the job of US diplomats to collude with local anti-government and even separatist forces everywhere around the world, the office said in a statement on its website.

"Such acts arbitrarily undermine other countries' sovereignty and security despite their opposition and indignation, and show little regard for international law and basic norms governing international relations."

Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said amid the tense atmosphere of a series of violent protests in Hong Kong, it's hard for people not to question the hidden agenda of the US behind the meeting with local separatists.

Tam said the US is trying to shift the focus of attention and rationalize their immoral acts. "Such behavior should be seriously condemned," he said.