Chinese diplomats warn Beijing ‘won’t sit on its hands’ if Hong Kong spirals out of control
- Ambassadors to Britain and Germany say central government will be forced to act if crisis deepens and point to Basic Law’s provisions for military intervention
Two of China’s leading diplomats in Europe have warned that Beijing will not stand idly by if the chaos in Hong Kong worsens.
The escalating diplomatic rhetoric came as the Chinese foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong condemned US politicians for “colluding with” extremists and violent offenders involved in the spiralling anti-government protests.
Speaking at a press conference in London on Thursday, Liu said that the central government would have to act if the situation became “uncontrollable” and “would not sit on its hands and watch”.
“We have enough solutions and enough power within the limit of the Basic Law to quell any unrest swiftly,” Liu said.
His comments came just hours after a group of legal analysts told a press conference in Beijing organised by the State Council that the city’s Basic Law has provisions that would allow for the deployment of Chinese military forces within Hong Kong.