Trump claims trade talks with China protecting Hong Kong protesters from worse violence

Donald Trump has claimed his trade talks with China have helped prevent the authorities from carrying out even more violent operations against protesters in Kong Kong.

Since protesters in the semi-autonomous region took to the streets earlier this year, initially in response to a controversial proposed extradition bill, the authorities have responded with tear gas and baton charges to the campaigners’ petrol bombs and rocks.

While US politicians from both main parties have urged greater support for the protesters, Mr Trump – currently engaged with a trade battle with Beijing – has largely avoided the issue.

Earlier this month he tweeted: “Of course China wants to make a [trade] deal. Let them work humanely with Hong Kong first!”

On Friday, as he left the White House for Camp David, the president claimed without providing evidence, that his engagement with president Xi Jinping, had stopped the response from being even more harsh.

“We all want liberty, we all want freedom,” the president said.

“I think if it weren’t for the trade talks, Hong Kong would be in much bigger trouble.

“I think it would’ve been much more violent, 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.”

He added: “I think we’re going to be hearing a lot about Hong Kong in the coming two to three days, and I hope it’s humane.”

On Friday, the New York Times reported officials in Beijing had decided to step up the arrest of demonstrators and were unlikely to give in to protesters’ demands.

The newspaper said: “Officials in Beijing, along with the Hong Kong government that answers to them, have decided on a policy of stepped-up arrests of demonstrators, who would be publicly labelled the most radical of the activists, according to Hong Kong cabinet members and leaders of the local pro-Beijing establishment.”