US President Donald Trump said on Friday that “if it weren’t for the trade talks, Hong Kong would be in much bigger trouble”. Photo: Reuters
SCMP: Donald Trump says trade talks with Beijing are ‘keeping down the temperature in Hong Kong’
* American president says Beijing’s response to anti-government protests has been restrained because it doesn’t want to jeopardise negotiations
* He also confirms new US tariffs on Chinese imports will take effect on Sunday
US President Donald Trump says Beijing’s response to anti-government protests in Hong Kong has been restrained because it does not want to jeopardise ongoing trade talks with Washington.
He also confirmed that new US tariffs on Chinese imports would take effect on Sunday.
“If it weren’t for the trade talks, Hong Kong would be in much bigger trouble. I think it would’ve be much more violent,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.
“I really believe China wants to make a deal, and they know it puts us in a very bad position if there’s not a humane way of handling the problems.
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Update #1: Trump says trade talks with China have helped limit violence in Hong Kong (The Hill)
Update #2: China response to Hong Kong would be ‘much more violent’ without US trade talks - Trump (RT)
WNU Editor: It is not only talks with the U.S. that is restraining China, but also how the EU would respond if China should decide to use force to stop the Hong Kong protests. Hence this explains the reactions of Chinese officials like this one .... China rebukes EU, US politicians for interfering on Hong Kong (Straits Times/Bloomberg).
