Beijing mouthpiece says US Capitol attack proves democracy is ‘a failure’

Xinhua commentary claims last week’s chaos ‘tore down the beautiful disguise of American democracy’

Latest mockery from China also describes condemnation from Western politicians as ‘chest thumping, stamping of feet, heartbreak and headaches’

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Supporters of President Donald Trump climb a wall at the US Capitol during a protest against certification of the election results by Congress on January 6. Beijing has seized on the chaos to criticise Washington. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:09pm, 12 Jan 2021Updated: 11:33pm, 12 Jan 2021

Chinese state media has again mocked last week’s attack on the US Capitol in Washington, calling it the collapse of “the American beacon” for Western liberal democracy.

A commentary by state news agency Xinhua on Tuesday said the occupation of the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump highlighted the weaknesses of Western democracy and proved it was “a failure”.

“Stopping the power transition with violence has shaken the roots and foundation of American democracy – the long celebrated American democracy has finally fallen from its altar,” the commentary said.

“The bloody scenes taking place at the highest temple of American politics tore down the beautiful disguise of American democracy,” it said. “However hard they try to repackage it, they can no longer conceal the truth.”

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying has accused US officials, lawmakers and the media of having ”double standards”. Photo: Reuters

Beijing has seized on the chaos of last Wednesday, accusing Washington of hypocrisy. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying compared the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters with Hong Kong anti-government protesters breaking into the city’s legislature in 2019. She said there were “double standards” at play in the response to the two events from US officials, lawmakers and the media.

Officials, state media and internet users in China have also mocked US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s comment in June 2019 that the mass protests taking place in Hong Kong were a “beautiful sight to behold”. The protests over a controversial extradition bill were largely peaceful at the time but Pelosi’s words have been used in Chinese memes showing chaotic protest scenes, including from the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the US.