Attack on Congress: Chinese in US alerted. Beijing criticizes US democracy
The Chinese present in the US capital urged to take precautions. Four Trump supporters died in clashes with police. The support of many countries for the US authorities. China speaks of "double standards", recalling Washington’s support for a raid on the Hong Kong parliament by pro-democracy protesters.
Beijing (AsiaNews) - Chinese citizens in Washington are being urged to take precautions following yesterday’s attack on Congress by hundreds of supporters of President Trump. The alert was issued today by the Chinese embassy in the US capital, which in addition to warning of possible violence also cautions against possible coronavirus contagion. The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry has also issued an alert for its citizens, offering assistance where needed.
Instigated by Trump during a rally, a group of his supporters raided Capitol Hill to block Democratic candidate Joe Biden's certification of victory in the November presidential elections. According to the latest reports, ensuing clashes with security forces resulted in four deaths and several injuries among the mob.
Western governments have expressed their firm condemnation of events that targeted the headquarters of the US Congress and Senate. India and Taiwan also said they were shocked by the incident, although the two countries enjoyed good relations with the Trump administration.
Instead, Chinese authorities and media are fanning the flames of violence. The Global Times today ran an editorial in which it attacks what it terms a "decadent" US democracy. The nationalist tabloid claims yesterday's events show that Western governments have "double standards" when faced with popular protests.
The Chinese establishment publication is referring to the raid in 2019 by a group of demonstrators on Hong Kong’s Parliament (the LegCo chamber). The speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, called it a "beautiful sight to behold", calling the protesters "freedom fighters". According to some Chinese netizens, US democracy has received a just "retribution" for its meddling in China's internal affairs.
However, observers point out that the condemnation of the assault on the US Congress was to defend democracy, threatened by those who want to subvert the popular vote. In Hong Kong, anti-Beijing demonstrators want to defend what little constitutional freedom they have left. In an unprecedented event, also yesterday, the police of the former British colony arrested 53 activists and Democrats with "the Orwellian" charge of working to obtain a majority in the legislative elections.
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12/08/2020 12:08
11/08/2020 09:29
