US and China spar over Hong Kong at delicate stage in trade negotiations

In a highly critical speech on October 24, 2019, US Vice-President Mike Pence made called out Beijing for tightening control over Hong Kong’s freedoms and rights. 

US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had also recently voiced support of the Hong Kong protesters.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said any attempt by the US to interfere in Hong Kong affairs is doomed to fail.

The remarks came at a sensitive time, with US-China trade talks only recently resuming on October 10, 2019.