The trade war that US President Donald Trump did with China more than a year ago is putting a strain on the global economy - but has also saved many people from dying. That's what Trump sees it. "Without me, Hong Kong would have been destroyed within 14 minutes "he said in a telephone interview with Fox News.
Beijing hold back on the ongoing negotiations with the US over a trade agreement between the two countries. Without him, China would have sent soldiers to the Special Administrative Region and killed thousands, Trump said. The only reason why Chinese President Xi Jinping did not intervene in Hong Kong was his concern about the impact on trade talks.
So far, Trump had not distinguished himself as a supporter of the protests, which now last almost half a year. He also voiced evasive questions about whether or not he would sign the almost unanimous Congress-approved laws to support the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. "We have to be on the side of Hong Kong," said Trump. "But I'm also on the side of Xi, he's a friend of mine, he's an incredible guy."
The protests in Hong Kong are against the government, the brutal police crackdown and the growing influence of the Beijing leadership. Since its return to China in 1997, Hong Kong has been autonomously ruled by China's sovereignty under the "one country, two systems" principle. Unlike the people of the Communist People's Republic, the Hong Kong people enjoy far-reaching rights such as freedom of assembly and expression. But now they fear that their freedoms will be restricted.
In the video: SPIEGEL correspondent Bernhard Zand in Hong Kong
REUTERS; THE MIRROR
Congress condemned the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong this week and approved two bills. They would come into effect with Trump's signature. China had asked Trump to veto the laws, threatening the US with "harsh countermeasures."