China slams US attempt to conceal HK interference

The Foreign Ministry on Friday rejected the United States' labeling of China as "a thuggish regime", saying that Washington has confused right with wrong in an attempt to conceal its interference in China's domestic affairs.

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement it was astonishing to see the US State Department spokeswoman claim that it was the job of US diplomats to meddle in the domestic affairs of other countries. "Can the world be at peace given the way the US does things?" Hua asked.

Hua's comments came as US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus on Thursday called China a "thuggish regime" for disclosing the photographs and personal details of a US diplomat who met with major leaders of the "Hong Kong independence" activists.