Global Times - 30.07.2019

violent criminals in accordance
with the law, and supports the
people who love both our coun-
try and Hong Kong in their de-
fense of the rule of law in the
region.”
“We especially understand
the pressure that the Hong
Kong Police Force and the fami-
ly of the police officers bear. Us-
ing this opportunity, we salute
the outstanding Hong Kong po-
lice officers” who have always
been fearless and professional,
and who bear heavy pressure,
Yang stressed.
The Hong Kong Police Force
website said the police have ar-
rested at least 49 people for un-
authorized assembly and pos-
session of offensive weapons at
Sunday’s illegal assembly.
The radical protesters were
getting increasingly violent.
They escalated from removing
railings, hurling metal poles
and bricks to arson and de-
struction. The police severely
condemned such behavior,
which has clearly deviated from
expressing opinions in a peace-
ful manner.

Shifting public opinion
Radical protesters have been
losing support from the public
following recent clashes, which
have gone far beyond the scope
of peaceful marches and dem-
onstrations.
A majority of the protesters
on Sunday stayed in the Chater
Garden in Central, which was
authorized by the police. But
groups of extreme protesters

usually hide their faces with

masks, dressed in black and

armed themselves with batons,

umbrellas and hard hats. They

marched in different direc-

tions, which have become ille-

gal rallies that obstruct traffic.

Those groups, however, do

not represent the mainstream

Hong Kong public as they have

touched the bottom line of a so-

ciety ruled by law and triggered

violent acts that endangered

safety.

“Hong Kong is a diverse

society. Expressing different

opinions should be respected.

Achieving justice by violating

the law is in the interest of

certain groups or individuals,”

Louis Chen, executive presi-

dent of the Hong Kong KOL

Project, told the Global Times.

A small number of seces-

sionists are also not welcomed

by the majority of peaceful

protesters in recent demonstra-

tions. Before the peaceful rally

in Chater Garden, online orga-

nizers came up with warning

posters for protesters, such as

“no unlawful impersonation

of the police,” and “protect the

integrity of one country, two

systems.”

The extreme protesters are

also different from the peaceful

majority, as they moved up bar-

ricades in a highly coordinated

way, and shielded themselves

behind umbrellas when the po-

lice asked them to leave. They

also ignored police warnings

after an hour-long standoff and

began throwing paint bombs

and canisters at police during

the dispersal operations.

Radical protesters also

burned miscellaneous items

inside trash cans on Sunday

night, and hurled bricks and

glass bottles, poured suspected

corrosive liquids and fired met-

al marbles using slingshots, ac-

cording to the police.

Hong Kong society should

band together against the radi-

cal protesters who broke the

law, and all the traitors and ri-

oters will be rejected by Hong

Kong people, Chen noted.

‘Foreign forces’

Yang also criticized foreign

interference in Hong Kong at

the Monday press conference.

Some Western politicians

want to show sympathy, toler-

ance and understanding to vio-

lent illegal activities, but criti-

cize the law-enforcement of the

police, said Yang. “This is truly

ridiculous and hilarious.”

The Chinese Foreign Min-

istry also slammed foreign

forces Monday after US House

of Representatives Foreign Af-

fairs Committee Chairman

Eliot Engel issued a statement

on Friday criticizing the Hong

Kong police’s handling of re-

cent “peaceful” anti-extradition

bill protests.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

spokesperson Hua Chunying

asked on Monday how some

people from the US dare call

that a “peaceful protest” when

everyone saw how the protest-

ers smashed the Legislative

Council, stormed the build-

ing of the liaison office and

attacked police officers with

deadly weapons.

Some people from Europe

and the US have tried to pro-

tect the radical protesters and

turned a blind eye to their vio-

lence. But when it happens in

Western countries, their police

officers never hesitate to use

force. They are truly practicing

double standards, she said.

day. It will be the 12th round of nego-

tiations between the two sides since the

trade war started last year and the first

since talks fell apart in May.

The Chinese team will still be led

by Vice Premier Liu He, and Chinese

Commerce Minister Zhong Shan will

also join the talks. The US side will be

led by US Trade Representative Robert

Lighthizer and US Secretary of Treasury

Steven Mnuchin. Other details about the

meetings remain unclear.

Days ahead of the planned talks, the

two sides sent positive signals apparent-

ly aimed at creating a better vibe for the

negotiations.

On Sunday, the Xinhua News Agency

reported that China has started to pur-

chase US agricultural products, includ-

ing millions of tons of soybeans.

Earlier, the US announced that it

would exempt 110 Chinese industrial

products from tariffs and allow US com-

panies to supply Chinese firms.

Expectations for Shanghai are run-

ning low, as divisions remain on several

issues, from tariffs to the wording of a

potential deal and as the US continues

on an apparently failed path of pressur-

ing China.

“Given all the obstacles, it is rather

unrealistic to expect that the talks will

yield any concrete breakthroughs,” He

Weiwen, a former senior Chinese trade

official, told the Global Times on Mon-

day, noting that the first meeting would

likely focus on regrouping after a two-

month stalemate.

“There are many things to catch up

after the back and forth in the past few

weeks.”

Even after the leaders of the two

countries agreed to resume talks, the

two sides have continued a war of words,

with communications limited to phone

calls. Chinese officials have appeared

reluctant to resume talks because of a

perceived lack of sincerity coming from

the US side.

Since the truce, US officials showed

willingness to restart trade talks but have

not made concrete steps to implement

the commitment US President Donald

Trump made during the meeting with

Chinese President Xi Jinping, including

allowing US companies to supply Chi-

nese telecom firm Huawei and lifting all

additional tariffs.

Though US officials indicated that

they would follow through on the com-

mitment, Chinese analysts pointed out

the difference between words and ac-

tions.

“We should pay attention to what they

do, not what they say, and so far they

haven’t done anything to truly imple-

ment their commitments,” said He, a

senior fellow at the Center for China and

Globalization.

The US “has not changed its maxi-

mum pressure tactics,” He said.

On Friday, the US President ordered

his government to devote “all necessary

resources” to push for reform at the

World Trade Organization (WTO) and

remove developing-country status from

some countries. US officials singled

out China in a memorandum signed

by Trump, although the move targeted

other developing countries, including

India.

The memo drew harsh criticism

from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on

Monday.

At a routine press briefing in Beijing,

Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the

ministry, said that the US move would

not gain any support and the US does

not have the final say at the WTO.

“The US stance on developing-coun-

try status at the WTO revealed its capri-

ciousness, arrogance and selfishness,”

Hua said, noting that such characteris-

tics have become so apparent from the

US that some in China have even coined

a phrase, “one shouldn’t act like the US,”

to describe bad behavior.

Returning to the negotiating table is

a positive step that could help the two

sides better understand each other and

find a solution, according to Li Yong,

deputy chair of the expert committee at

the China Association of International

Trade.

“Talking is always better than not

talking,” Li said. China is always open

to talks but will not give up on its core

interests, he noted.

“Regardless of what happens, I think

China is prepared.”

2 Tuesday July 30, 2019

Page Editor:

liruohan@

globaltimes.com.cn

TOPNEWS

Radical protesters losing public support: expert

Yang Guang (center) and Xu Luying (right), spokespersons for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs

Office of the State Council, attend a press conference in Beijing on Monday concerning the

ongoing protests in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Some positive signals, but quick breakthrough unlikely amid US bullying: analysts

Experts, from Page 1

Central, from Page 1