Chinese media blames foreigners over Occupy protests

From the South China Sea to Tibet and Xinjiang, the mainland is beset by problems brought on by foreign interference. Now Hong Kong has become part of the country's volatile frontier, experiencing turmoil at the hands of meddling foreign governments.

So said mainland state media, as the city's massive protest movement for universal suffrage entered its fourth day yesterday.

Academics say state views are shaped by a Marxist outlook and history. Hong Kong has played a critical role in earlier political movements on the mainland.

Pointing fingers could make it more difficult for foreign governments to lend their support and easier for the mainland authorities to deflect blame.

In a commentary published on the eve of National Day, the People's Daily website compared the Hong Kong protests with colour revolutions in former Soviet countries and the Arab Spring in the Middle East, insisting that all were instigated by the West.

"Today they are repeating their tricks, and get very excited when they see 'moves' in Hong Kong. Their dirty hands are reaching out through the cracks," read the commentary, which was also carried on the Xinhua website. "Can't you see that British and American diplomats are already making irresponsible remarks?"

The White House on Monday urged the Hong Kong government to exercise restraint. British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday that he was "deeply concerned" about the situation in Hong Kong.