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Chinese officials and state media needled the Trump administration over race-related protests and looting that have engulfed U.S. cities in recent days, after weathering criticism and threats from Washington over Beijing’s own moves to quell unrest in Hong Kong.
Over the weekend, China’s foreign ministry and state media seized the opportunity to fire back at Trump. Chinese propaganda outlets played up scenes from the U.S. of violence, burning buildings, harsh police responses and protesters decrying government as part of a broader narrative that western democracies are regularly plagued by chaos and unrest that would never be permitted in the mainland.
They included foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. She retweeted U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, who had urged people to stand against the Communist Party over its treatment of Hong Kong, and added “I can’t breathe” — some of the last words uttered by Floyd before he died that have become a rallying cry.
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