OREANDA-NEWS. Chinese authorities protest over statements by Vice President Michael Pence expressing sympathy for the demonstrators in Hong Kong. This was announced on Friday by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Hua Chunying.

“The Chinese side expresses strong discontent and a strong protest”, they said at a regular briefing. “We believe that individual representatives of the American side should carefully admire themselves in the mirror, be aware of their own problems and deal with their solution. We demand that the United States stop resorting to actions that undermine our bilateral relations and mutual trust". According to Hua Chuning, representatives of the White House should correct their own mistakes as soon as possible.

On October 24, Pence said the PRC authorities "infringed on the rights and freedoms" of Hong Kong residents. He also spoke out in favor of protesters in the territory of this special administrative region, criticizing the National Basketball Association, which, he said, allegedly "indulges Beijing in suppressing freedom of speech".