The wrath of Beijing against Joshua Wong in Germany

Chinese spokesman: Hong Kong's business is China's business. No government has the right to intervene. Wong, one of the pro-democracy leaders, is in Germany to get support for the movement. "If we are now in a new Cold War, Hong Kong is the new Berlin."

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The meeting between pro-democratic activist Joshua Wong and German foreign Minister Heiko Hass has sparked Beijing's ire that accuses Berlin of "lack of respect" and of wanting to "stir up the separatist anti-China wave. " Hua Chunying, spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, reiterated yesterday that "Hong Kong's affairs are purely Chinese affairs. No foreign government, organization or individual has the right to intervene ".

Wong, who has become one of the symbols of resistance to Beijing, is in Germany to demand support for the pro-democracy movement. His trip is sponsored by the German newspaper Bild and included a meeting in the German parliament September 9 to celebrate human rights activists around the world. Wong has also scheduled several meetings with other politicians in Berlin. Then he will travel to the United States.

The 22-year-old was also one of the leaders of the Occupy Central movement and was arrested and detained. At present he is free on bail. He had written an open letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel, who met Prime Minister Li Keqiang in Beijing last week. Merkel asked that the tensions in Hong Kong find a peaceful and respectful solution.

At the meeting in parliament, Wong stressed that the protests in Hong Kong will continue "until the day we have free elections". And in reference to the city of Berlin, divided between the two blocs, communist and democratic until the fall of the Wall, he said: "If we are now in a new Cold War, Hong Kong is the new Berlin". (P.W.)