Chinese armed police stage another riot drill across Hong Kong border as protests enter 11th week
- Footage showing officers in Shenzhen using tear gas and water cannon against ‘protesters’ published by state media
- Drill was the third such exercise this month as anti-government protests continue across the border
A minute-long video of the drill was published by the official WeChat account of the state-owned tabloid Global Times on Friday night, in which hundreds of regular and armed police are shown assembled in an unspecified location in Shenzhen.
At the beginning of the video, one police officer shouted to the crowd in Cantonese that the protesters should “stop violence and repent”.
Global Times, an affiliate of the party mouthpiece People’s Daily, did not specify the purpose of the exercises, but the video showed the use of tear gas, armoured vehicles and water cannons against mock protesters.
Officers in body armour, helmets, shields and holding flags, banners and batons, confronted groups of people wearing black shirts and construction safety helmets resembling those worn by Hong Kong protesters.